A Sketch of Assam: With some account of the Hill TribesButler, John, Major
History
A Sketch of Assam: With some account of the Hill Tribes
Butler, John, Major
Assam (India) -- Description and travel; Assam (India) -- Social life and customs; Ethnology -- India -- Assam
Soon after the succession of Luckmi Sing to the throne of his brother,
Rajeswur Sing, Rajhan Mooran, a Muttuck chief, was commissioned to
procure a thousand elephants for Luckmi Sing, who was a great admirer
of these animals. The chief obeyed, and from time to time he presented
many elephants to the king. On one occasion, having been unusually
fortunate in capturing two hundred and fifty elephants, he took them
to the capital to show them to his Majesty; but as it was customary to
apprize the Bor Borowa of his intended visit, that the circumstance
might be previously announced to the King, he was proceeding to the
residence of that functionary, when he met the Bor Borowa's son going
on business to the King. Unfortunately he was persuaded to accompany
the young man, unmindful of the indiscretion of deviating from the
established rules of respect and courtesy to the Bor Borowa.
On Rajhan's arrival at the palace, the King ordered his servants to
prepare to attend him during the inspection of the elephants. The Bor
Borowa being obliged to be present on all such occasions, and hearing
that Rajhan Mooran had ventured to approach the Rajah without the usual
formality of an introduction, determined to wreak his vengeance on the
insolent Muttuck. Luckmi Sing inspected the elephants, and was highly
pleased with Rajhan Mooran's promptitude and assiduity in the execution
of his orders. He warmly expressed his royal approbation of the conduct
of the chief, and, handsomely rewarding him, retired to the palace.
The Bor Borowa now took the opportunity of sending for Rajhan Mooran
to learn his reasons for not having apprized him of his arrival before
he had sought an interview with the king. The excuse pleaded by Rajhan
Mooran was unheeded; the Bor Borowa was implacable, and directed the
infliction of a severe corporal punishment with the cane. So strictly
was this order executed, that Rajhan Mooran was cast into the road
in a lifeless state. Here he was recognised by his countrymen, and
conveyed away; and with good treatment, but not without difficulty,
he recovered.
The undeserved insult and chastisement he had received from the Bor
Borowa, however, rankled deeply in his breast; and he lost no time,
when able to move, in proceeding to the Muttuck Gosain Ushtobhoj, [2]
to claim his intercession in obtaining redress for the insufferable
dishonour he had been subjected to.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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