102 E. A. Gait — Tlistorical Research in Assam. [June, 



I am told that there are in existence copper plates of land gi'ants 



by the kings of Jaintia. These would 



* The search for old inscrip- be of greater value than those of the 



tinns which was instituted in Colo- ii_ t-j.** (»xi iii- 



nolKeatinge's time seems to l.ave ^^^^^^ ^^ J^^^^ia is one of the old king- 



been less thorough in Sylhet thfin doms of which our knowledge is at pre- 



elsewhere and more is therefore, ^^ ^^^ fragmentary. It is not im- 



to be hoped for from further en- » •^ 



quiries now. probable that other local rulers in the 



Surma Valley made grants of land on 

 copper plates ; and it would probably bring some useful information 

 to lifht if a systematic enquiry were instituted in that district into 

 the origin of the Idl-hiraj grants there. The proceedings under the old 

 Resumption Regulation of J 819 would probably show where further 

 enquiry would be useful.* 



A few older plates may also from time to time come to light; but 

 their discovery must apparently be a matter of chance rather than of 

 systematic enquiry. 



9. Two useful inscriptions on temples built by Koch kings ai'e 



known, viz., those at Hajo and Kama- 



t See my paper on the Koch , , j» j.i u i • i i i 



Kings of K/marupa, Journal of the ^hya ; f others may perhaps be included 



Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1893, amongst the inscriptions noticed below 



P^g^ 295. ^g ^Q^ ^g^ deciphered. 



10. There are numerous inscriptions on temples erected under 

 Ahom auspices. All of these bear dates of the reign of Rudra Sirhha 

 (1695-1714 A.D.) and subsequent kings, and are of use chiefly in check- 

 ing the dates given in the hiiranjis, and in showing the extent of country 

 ruled by the princes in question, and the degree to which they were 

 dominated by Hindu influences. Most of the inscriptions of this class 

 Avere copied under Colonel Keatinge's auspices, and all that remains 

 to be done is to collate these copies and see what additions to our exist- 

 ing knowledge of Ahom history and chronology can be derived from 

 them. 



11. Amongst " Other inscriptions " may be mentioned two on 

 rocks on the bank of the Brahmaputra near Tezpur, which have never 

 yet attracted the attention which they seem to deserve, a deciphered 

 inscription at Khaspur and another undeciphered at Maibong, and two 

 inscriptions which were said to be undecipherable in the enquiries made 

 in Colonel Keatinge's time, viz., one on the door of the Siddhe9vara 

 temple in Sarubangsar mauza in Kamrup, and another on the temple of 

 Chandika in the same district. No doubt further search would bring 

 other inscriptions to light; 1 think that ruined palaces, such as that of 

 Bhishmaka near Sadiya, of Harmati in Nortli Lakhirapur and of Bhal- 

 uka at Bhalukpung, and the old Kacharl capitals at Diraapur, Maibong, 



