772 Extracts from a report of a journey [No. 154. 



Dhemapoor, 9th February, 1844. — Arrived at this post about 2 p, m., 

 and found some huts erected for me by the coolies, whom I despatched 

 a few days previous to my departure from Golaghat, for the purpose of 

 clearing the path from Golaghat to this post. Went over to the old fort 

 of Dhemapoor, on the south bank of the Dhunsiri, but the place was 

 so covered with jungle, I was unable to distinguish any thing, excepting 

 some pillars and a gateway ; these pillars are of a composition of sand, 

 lime, and goor, &c, extremely hard and durable ; several of them are 

 in a perfect state of preservation, others have been split asunder by large 

 trees falling across them ; their general height is about 1 2 feet and 

 diameter 4 feet, some of them very neatly carved. These pillars I am 

 told, formed the ground-work of an extensive building, the distance 

 between each post about 10 feet, and on these pillars, was the platform 

 or mechaun. The gateway is of brick, quite perfect at present, but 

 must very shortly fall to pieces, as huge trees have taken root on the top 

 of it. Some of these trees are very large, from one and a half to two feet 

 in diameter. How they thrive up there I cannot imagine ; there is also 

 a wall of eight feet high by four to five feet deep surrounding this 

 fort. This wall, I suppose, is half a mile square, excepting the easterr 

 side, where the gateway is ; a double ditch surrounds the wall. There 

 are some fine trees in this fort. 



\0th February. — Remained to-day to inspect the stockade godown 

 godown accounts, &c. The stockade is on the North bank of the Dhunsiri 

 and around it is a clearance of about 80 poorahs, cleared by Captaii 

 Bigge in 1841, it is however again becoming a heavy jungle of grass anc 

 underwood. From the several clusters of plants and trees scatteret 

 over this spot, I should say, that the whole of this cleared land had beei 

 cultivated. On my inquiring of the Subadar the cause of this falling 

 off, he informed me, that the sepoys had formerly cultivated the greater 

 part of this land ; but their being now moved about from place to place, 

 has prevented their taking any further interest in its cultivation, an( 

 they consequently have given it up. I hereupon ordered the Subad* 

 to relieve the guard but once in six months, instead of once in foi 

 months : this arrangement will allow of the sepoys cultivating the land 

 at Dhemapoor and at the other posts. They will sow in June and July, 

 and reap in November. 



