p- 170. 
p- 171. 
108 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [February, 1913 
CuaPpTer I, 
Journey among the Abors.—Difficulties to know their country. 
—Vain aitempts of the English to penetrate into it.—Ceremonies 
attending my reception.—General assembly at my arrival.—Super- 
and missionary from Europe.—Description of a fire.—Supersti- 
tious practices to extinguish it and drive away the fire-spirit.— 
Other accidents happening in the village attributed to my presence.— 
My expulsion decided. —Departure.—The village of Mimbo. 
Deak Sir, ! 
I sent to Mr. Foucaud* the journal of my expedition to 
Thibet ; to-day I send you the account of a shorter and less 
dangerous journey among the Abors or Padams. 
As n ropean has ever gained admittance into this 
country, it is difficult to have an idea of its geographical 
features. en, as you know, it would require long an 
familiar intercourse with a people, to give anything like an 
accurate description of its customs. Nothing short of master- 
ing its language and living its home-life would qualify one for 
suc ; 
This remark is never so true as when a traveller is called 
upon to describe a savage tribe such as the Padams; they are 
“unfamiliar with the first rudiments of the* most ordinary 
knowledge, they possess no written language, and profess the 
strictest abstention from all intercourse with strangers. I am 
therefore hardly qualified to speak of the Abors with authority, 
though I am the only foreigner who has stayed among them 
for some considerable time 
Since the English first occupied Assam 29 years ago, 
several agents of the East India Company have tried to gain 
access into this country, with a view, if possible, to enter into 
commercial relation with Thibet, and to ascertain whether the 
Siang, known to the English by the name of Dihong, is really 
the famous Zang-po, which crosses Thibet from East to West, 
and which has been such a puzzle to the geographers of the 
last centuries. But the Padams knew the ‘‘Timeo Danaos 
et dona ferentes.’’ ‘If we allow,’’ so they said, ‘‘ any English- 
In their Opinion, any white skin, any nose somewhat 
rotruding is of English make. This will make you understand 
the trouble I had in getting their consent to receive me. My 
' This account was sent to Dr. Bousquet, surgeon at th Necker 
Hospital, Paris, under whom Fr. Krick had taken some lessons in medi- 
cine. . 
2 Professor of Tibetan. 
