1837.] Remarks on the Silks of Assam. 21 



Khamti and Ahom characters, above alluded to as presented by 

 Captain Jenkins. The former commences with an invocation to 

 Buddha in the Pall language and Burmese character, but there are 

 several grammatical errors committed by the Khamti copyist — the line 

 should run 



^GQOCDOOOCDOOGOOD^^ODGCO OOgOODg||OOO^c8 



Namotassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa itf jayatusabba mangalam. 



Praise to tbe divine object of worship, the omniscient Buddha ; through 

 whom may all happiness conquer. 



We hope that Mr. Brown will enable us to insert a translation of 

 the Khamti and Ahom texts in a future page. — Ed. 



III. — Remarks on the Silk Worms and Silks of Assam. By Mr. Thomas 



Hugon, Sub. Asst. Nowgong. 



[Communicated by Capt. F. Jenkins, Pol. Agent in Assam.] 



The following worms producing silk are found in Assam. The 

 mulberry worm (large and small), the eria, the mooga, or moonga, 

 the kontkuri, the deo mooga, and the haumpottonee. The five last 

 are indigenous to the country, but there are no reasons to suppose that 

 the first is likewise so. The mulberry is scarce, and none is found in 

 the wild state. The time of the introduction could be, perhaps, ascer- 

 tained in some of the Assamese booronjees or chronicles — (which I 

 was unable to procure immediately to ascertain the point) ; some of 

 them extending several centuries back — as the Assamese got reli- 

 gious instructors from Bengal, it is very probable they also got from 

 there the mulberry tree and worm. The use of the silk being con- 

 fined to the raja and grandees, and the rearing of the worm to one 

 caste, are additional proofs that its introduction did not precede that 

 of Hinduism — the joogees (the caste alluded to) must evidently have 

 come up with it •> the Assamese refuse to rear the silk worm, but not 

 having this objection to the other worms would be one proof of the 

 latter being indigenous, were it doubtful. 



Mulberry worm. — The management of these worms in Assam is 

 nearly similar to what it is in Bengal. They are reared within doors, 

 and require the same care and attention as are bestowed on them 

 there ; a separate hut is used, which is fitted with bamboo stages with 

 a passage between them and the outer wall — these huts are built 

 north and south with a single door on the east side ; this is generally 

 the case, but by no means a fixed rule amongst the Assamese ; only 

 one female of the family goes into the house, and previous to doing 



