1836.] on the extreme N. E. Frontier of Bengal. 207 



troops, at last succeeded in driving him from his throne and kingdom, 

 and in appointing a successor of their own choice. During the period 

 of their ascendancy, they committed the most dreadful ravages upon 

 the country, and the original inhabitants : great portions of it were 

 deserted, and even till this day, it has never regained any thing near 

 its former prosperity. But these lawless plunderers were not allowed 

 long to enjoy the fruits of their conquests ; they were speedily driven 

 from the capital by 1000 sipahfs, under Captain Welsh, and retreated 

 to the districts which they now inherit. The head of this still power- 

 ful clan is known by the name of the Mattuk Rajah, or more com- 

 monly, by that of the Bara shiapatl (great general) . During the Burmese 

 war, he maintained his independence ; but on our taking Rangpur, he 

 claimed our protection, and has since manifested his sincerity, by a 

 zealous endeavour to render every assistance in his power in the 

 advancement of our plans. 



The greater part of the country allotted them is a desert vaste, and 

 only the banks of the river Diburi are inhabited. The population 

 amounts to about 60,000 men, inclusive of women and children. The 

 capital is Rangagora. The state is allowed about 500 musquets and 

 ammunition according to treaty, and supplies a large contingent. They 

 profess the Hindu religion ; but act so little in accordance with its 

 tenets, that enlightened Brahmins scarcely acknowledge them. 



The Bara senapati, with all his affability and apparent deference 

 to our authority, is by some considered not entitled to perfect and 

 unlimited confidence. Situated between two powerful states, the 

 British and the Burmah, his policy seem to be to maintain good terms 

 with both ; and in the event of another Burmese invasion, it is to be 

 feared, he would preserve neutrality, till he saw how the scale was likely 

 to turn, and then join the stronger party. 



Ndgas. 



The next border tribes met with in proceeding westward are the 

 Nagas. To assign limit to their country seems almost impossible, and 

 even to number their numerous tribes, no less so ; they are scattered 

 all over the mountainous ridge that divides Assam from Manipur, to 

 which state some of them are tributary, some to Assam, and some 

 even to the Burmese. There is no one individual tribe of any formi- 

 dable consequence amongst them, and there is but little inclination 

 to coalesce, they being constantly embroiled in petty feuds. Their 

 houses are built on the most inaccessible points of the mountain, and 

 planned for every-day defence. They are represented by the inhabi- 

 tants of the plains as robbers and murderers, and are so much the 

 dread of all, that little of their economy is known. 



