200 Account of the Mountain Tribes [April, 



The Singphos are divided into 12 tribes, each having its own chief 

 or Gaum ; but every chieftain maintains his own separate independence, 

 and seldom unites with any other, unless it be to punish some aspiring 

 chief obnoxious to them all, or in making plundering excursions upon 

 neighbouring states. The Singphos have for several generations been 

 the terror of the wretched and degenerate Assamese, and were in the 

 constant habit of making irruptions into their country, sometimes as 

 far as their very capital itself ; of plundering their temples, laying 

 waste their country, and carrying off the inhabitants into slavery. 

 Since the British troops have had possession of Assam, these inroads 

 have been prevented ; but as might be expected, they are somewhat 

 impatient of that restraint, and have once or twice endeavoured to 

 resort to their old habits. 



To give an idea of the extent to which the devastations were carried 

 on, the late Captain Neufville, received from the Singphos alone 

 upwards of 7000 Assamese captive slaves, and perhaps there are 100,000 

 Assamese and Manipuris still in slavery throughout the dominions 

 of Ava. 



About five years ago, a body of them amounting to about 3000 men, 

 armed with spears, daus, and a few muscmets and jinjals, under a 

 chief called Wakum Koonjie, made an advance against the station 

 of Suddia, with the confident intention of carving away in chains every 

 seapoy present, and of driving the British out of the country. This 

 was a plot of three years' concocting ; large stores of grain were accu- 

 mulated in convenient depots, and shackles for 10,000 prisoners were 

 all in readiness ; but the whole force was shamefully repulsed by the 

 then political Agent, Capt. Neufville, at the head of a handful of men 

 of the Assam Infantry, and a few armed Kangti andMuamaria militia, 

 and driven in consternation into their lines. 



The Lubona only of all the 1 2 chiefs took part in this irruption, and 

 he has taken an active hand in the late disturbances, headed by the 

 Duffa Gaum. 



All the chiefs have claimed our protection, though no tribute is 

 exacted from them ; with one or two exceptions, they have acted up 

 to their engagements. 



The Busa Gaum or chief is a man of superior understanding, and 

 was entrusted by the late Agent to the Governor General, the lamented 

 Mr. Scott, with a good deal of confidence, and had an allowance from 

 Government of 50 rs. a month, as an organ of communication with the 

 other chiefs, and a spy upon their actions. The late Capt. Neufville 

 was also confident in his integrity, and made proposals to him to desert 

 his own country, and live on lands to be granted him at Burhath and 



