130 Despatch from Lieut, H. Bigge. [No. 110, 



that a large portion had been sent forward ; the remainder was speedily- 

 transferred to smaller boats, and is now close at hand, having been brought 

 by water to a small river called Daopani, one march on this side Hir 

 Pathor, (BorPhalong of Captain Pemberton's maps) and from whence a 

 path through the forests had been previously cleared to the nearest point 

 to this. 



From a demi-official letter, received at Golah ghaut from Captain Han- 

 nay, I was led to believe that large supplies had been collected for the 

 use of his detachment at Nagorah, but in this there must have been some 

 mistake, as the Jemadar in command informs me, that, but very little rice 

 has been collected, and not much more may be expected at present. 



Never having previously relied on any other arrangements than those 

 I made when at Nogong, but little, if any delay will result from this 

 circumstance ; and the detachment was ordered to leave Nagorah on the 

 1st instant at latest, and will, probably, should the heavy rains w T e have 

 had not detain them, arrive here on the 5th or 6th instant. 



I remained 3 or 4 days at Golah ghaut, superintending my arrangements, 

 and was present at a sort of fair, held there, on the arrival of a fleet of 

 boats, laden with cotton from the Lotah Nagah Hills on the Dogong river, 

 which falls into the Dhunsini a short way above ; about 70 of the Nagas 

 came down, with two of their sykeats, many of them understanding the 

 Assamese language, and were engaged the whole day in bartering their 

 cotton, for salt, dried fish, dogs, fowls, and ducks, with a few brass rings, 

 of which they seem very fond, suspending them one below the other from 

 holes bored in the ear. 



The general average of prices was about 



1 Seer of Salt 4 to 5 of Cotton. 



1 Dog 3 (they eat this animal.) 



1 Fowl or Duck . . . . , If to 2. 



On visiting their camp a little above the ghaut, I found several of them 

 lying on the ground, intoxicated from the effects of a most disgusting sort 

 of spirituous liquor they make from rice, and which they drink hot ; they 

 are a very sullen race, and it was with some difTculty I could get any re- 

 plies to the few questions I asked them. 



Regarding the madder, with which the hair on their spears was dyed, 

 I tried a long time to gain some correct information, but in vain, the 

 Sykeah told me, they had none in their own hills, but what they used was 

 brought to them by the Abor Nagas, a tribe I have not yet heard of, 

 but believe it will be found to mean the Amgamees, of whom they 

 seemed to stand much in dread, and from whom they said they received 





