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
The first of these three classes reside on the loftiest and most
remote mountains north of the valley of Assam. The second class
on a lower range, and the third at the foot of, or on the plains
immediately leading up to, the hills. Several parties of Abors visited
me frequently at Saikwah to barter a few fowls, eggs, ginger, chillies,
yams, &c., for salt, and other necessaries of life. They appear to
be descendants of the Tartar race; and are large, uncouth, athletic,
fierce-looking, dirty fellows. The hair of the women is cut short,
like that of the men: in a circle round the crown of the head it is two
inches long, but the hair in front and behind, below the upper circle,
is only about half an inch long. The ears of the men and women are
perforated, the aperture, one inch in diameter, being distended by a
piece of wood, worn as an ornament; and the necks of the Abor women are
loaded with innumerable glass bead necklaces of all colours. Their arms
are likewise adorned, from the wrist to the elbow with brass rings;
the legs are exposed from the knee downwards, the calf of the leg
being bandaged with cane rings to the ankle. The Abors are feared and
respected by all the neighbouring tribes for their martial spirit;
nevertheless they are in great dread of the highland or Bor Abors,
who are said to be as brave as they are savage. Like all the hill
tribes of Assam, the Abors are void of beards: invariably plucking
them, and leaving only scanty moustaches. They can neither read
nor write, and their language sounds extremely harsh. The dress of
the Abor chiefs consists of Thibetian woollen cloaks, and a simple
piece of cotton cloth, about a foot square, which is passed between
the legs and suspended by a string round the waist: but not so
effectually as to screen their persons from exposure every time they
sit down. Of delicacy, however, the Abors are as void as they are of
cleanliness. They wear three kinds of helmets, one of plain cane,
and others trimmed with an edging of bear's skin, or covered with
a thick yellow skin of a species of deer. A more formidable looking
covering for the head could scarcely be worn.
In December, 1835, an Abor chief, with two hundred followers,
descended from the hills, and begged permission to locate on the
Dehing, within a day's journey of Suddeah. The Political Agent
asked the chief whether he was aware that the land in that quarter
was within the Company's jurisdiction, and that settlers necessarily
became subject to our police administration? He replied he was aware of
that, and would readily give up any of his people guilty of criminal
offences, but demurred to the introduction of our police officers for
the apprehension of offenders. He was then asked whether he and his
people would agree to pay taxes? His answer was that they had never
been accustomed to do so, and could not submit to it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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