780 Ancient Land Grants in Assam, [No. 104 



Rama Chundra (a. d. 1238) to Sukanangka, or Sukrank, son of Gujanka, 

 or Gujank according to Capt. Westmacott, with whom the Jytari dynasty- 

 expired (a. d. 1478), we have 13 Rajas occupying a period of 240 years, 

 at an average reign of 21 years and a fraction, which is rather above the 

 ordinary admitted chronological average. It may however be, that names 

 after, as well before, Ram Chundra, or Chundra Pal, may have been omit- 

 ted. In any sort, the assignment of a date to the Pal sera in our own 

 must be mainly conjectural ; but taking Major Jenkins' list as correct, at the 

 average of 12 years to each reign, from about the death of Jytari, when I 

 suppose the Pal sera to begin, to the accession of Chundra Pal in a. d. 

 1238, we should have it commence at about a. d. 1178, or, if four addi- 

 tional reigns be admitted, according to Capt. Westmacott, a. d. 1130. It 

 remains for my readers to consider whether they would suppose it likely that 

 Hindooism had been established prior to that in Assam (as the apparently- 

 fabulous tradition would go to prove), or whether it is not more correct to 

 conclude, that it made its way into the country about that period. 



I need not remark on the confusion of the lists of Rajas. Shubahu, 

 whom Jytari succeeded by conquest, according to one account, is possibly 

 the Suhahu of Major Jenkins' list, between whom and the conqueror 10 names 

 intervene. It is much, in such absence of authenticity, to arrive, as I trust 

 we have done, at even some approximation to the truth. 



I should howcA'er omit one most remarkable point regarding the Pal 

 Rajas of Assam, did I fail to note that the Rajas of Bengal (having their 

 capital at Gaur) were themselves a Pal dynasty, and that the name Dhurma 

 Pala has been found on two copper plates, the Monghir and Dinajpor 

 plates, which record kings of that race, both evidently referring to the 

 same individual. The date of this potentate is given by Abul Fuzl, a. d. 

 1027, which differs as regards Dhurma Pala from our calculation, and thus, 

 independently of the discrepancies of other names in our present and 

 the former plates, disproves the identity of our Dhurma Pala with him 

 of Gaur. Still however it is very plain that a Pal Hindoo conqueror of 

 Assam, who brought Brahmins from the capital of that country, must have 

 belonged to that family, though he was, it would I think appear, but a 

 junior branch, or off-shoot from it. 



Boodhism therefore was expelled from Assam by Hindoos from Bengal, 

 but I cannot help adding a few more words on the subject of the history of 

 Assam, in order to show that the subsequent Koche and Ahom invasions 

 must have so wholly destroyed the Hindoo dynasties above noted, as to 

 lead to the belief generally entertained among the people of the country 

 of the introduction of that religion into it at a period so recent as the last 

 century. The following comparatively modern inscriptions, which the 

 Society owes to the kindness of Lieut. P. H. Sale (Engineers) are printed 

 without literal translations (although I took care to have them made), as 

 Lieut. Sale's abstract of their contents is quite sufficient for all purposes 

 required. I should mention, that I found Lieut. Sale's letter among the 

 papers made over to me, when I took charge temporarily of the Secretary's 

 duties. His communication, though long unnoticed, has not been made in 

 vain, and its publication will, I trust, lead to his again addressing the 

 Society. His letter is as follows : — 



" I beg to send you the accompanying facsimiles of inscriptions, which I took in the 

 neighbourhood of Gowahatty, when I passed through that city in January, 1838. They 

 can lay no claim to antiquity, and I doubt not that I have been forestalled ; however, 

 they throw light on the period when Hindooism first extended into the province of 

 Assam. The Kamakhshya temple is said to be the first Hindoo place of worship 

 erected in these parts ; the renown of its great sanctity extends far and wide, and many 

 pilgrims seek the purification of their souls at this shrine. The temple is situated on 

 a hill, about 40U feet high ; on the ascent to it is a colossal figure of Betal carved upon 



