808 The Hodesum (improperly called Kolehan,) [No. 104. 



gree as Arabs of the desert, for it is thought a sign of enmity to 

 stop even at the door- way without a * stirrup cup' of Eely. Among 

 their chief faults may be reckoned indolence, and dirt. The poorer 

 people are often very filthy, and unless in the warm season, seldom 

 touch water. The lowest classes will not object to devouring bullocks 

 that have died, from disease, out in the fields, even though far ad- 

 vanced in decomposition, and will devour stale eggs, half-putrid fish, 

 &c. &c. But these filthy customs are confined to the very lowest and 

 poorest of the people. 



Memoir of Sylhet, Kachar, and the adjacent Districts. By Captain 

 7 ISB.EK, formerly Superintendent of Kachar and Jynta. 



The provinces of Bengal east of the Brahmaputra, though among the 

 earliest acquisitions of the British in India, attracted but little attention 

 for a long time, in consequence of their general tranquillity and secluded 

 position. The vast mountain regions by which they were encompassed 

 on their external frontiers, seemed to secure them against the chance 

 of serious foreign invasion, while the incursions of the wild hill tribe* 

 had but slight effects on their internal condition, and were easily 

 curbed by a few local troops retained chiefly for that purpose. If 

 Sylhet excited but little interest, still less was naturally thought of 

 the petty independent states connected with it ; and it was only after 

 the Burmans had conquered Assam and Manipur, that a wish seems to 

 have arisen for a more accurate knowledge of their condition ; though 

 this was still greatly restrained by fear of giving umbrage to their chiefs. 

 The events arising out of the Burmese war have materially altered 

 the relations of all these countries, on which, however, it is not my 

 purpose here to enlarge, but simply to bring to notice such facts 

 respecting their geography, internal condition, resources, and traditional 

 histor}', as in the course of a long residence, and the prosecution of 

 various inquiries, I have been able to collect ; restricting myself however 

 to the correction of current errors, and the notice of such particulars 

 as have not hitherto obtained general publicity. 



Geography. — The survey of Sylhet, though unfinished, has yet been 

 prosecuted far enough to shew, that the area of the district is more 



