766 



Ancient Land Grants in Assam. 



[No. 104. 



Paper on Ancient Land Grants on Copper ^ discovered in Assam. 

 Communicated hy Major F. Jenkins, Governor General's Agent 

 N. E. Frontier. 



A putter of three copper plates, joined by a large copper ring to 

 a seal, containing within a raised rim a figure of Ganesh, was lately 

 dug up near the station of Tezpore, in the Durrung division, and 

 I have the pleasure to enclose a copy of the inscription. 



A similar grant of two plates was lately produced by a Brahmin in 

 the Kamroop Courts, to substantiate a claim to some Lakhiraj lands 

 at the time it was first brought up, there was no person in the pro- 

 vince who could read the inscription, but having given to a Pundit 

 the alphabets of ancient forms of Sanscrit writing, published by Mr. 

 James Prinsep to illustrate his discoveries, he was soon able to make 

 out the inscription. 



It was a grant of land as Burmuttur, by Durmpal, in the year* 

 36, without any mention what era, to three Brahmins, and detailed the 

 boundaries of the grant. That inscription was not very legible, the 

 letters in some places being much rubbed, but the letters in the present 

 Putter are quite distinct, and I hope they have been correctly copied. 



The Dewali which was formed by this grant, viz. Maha Kudra 

 Dewali, is still in existence, though in a very dilapidated state, and 

 has given its name to the Mowza on which it stands. 



Of the extent of the country under the Pal dynasty on this frontier, 

 or of any particulars of their family or history, I fear we are not likely 

 to find any records in Assam. The only mention of the Pal Rajahs that 

 I have met with, is a very ancient looking chronicle possessed by a 

 Brahmin, the first leaf of which is apparently lost. It now begins 

 thus : — 



Lakhipal, 

 Subabu, 



His minister Sumati, 

 Then follow the names of 



As being the Ra- 

 jahs or rulers of 

 " Burcherides," Per- 

 haps the present dis- 

 tricts of Chooteya, 

 Chardoar, Noadoar, 

 Chudoar. 



Khetrijetari, 

 His son Subalik, 



and seven names, ending in Narain, and after 

 them is the name of Ramchandra, then inter- 

 venes the word, 

 Jaintee, 



probably meaning the country we call Jain- 

 teah ; and after it follows the names of the follow- 

 ing Pals : — 

 Japandu Pal, 

 Hari Pal, 

 Dhamba Pal, 

 Ram Pal, 

 Pakhya Pal, 

 Chandra Pal, 



* Note. Capt. Jenkins had the kindness to send me subsequently the plates 

 themselves, which were exhibited at a recent Meeting. |]Ji 



