184/.] Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, fyc, 61 



ever seed is sown or slips planted they * always thrive.' " Tavernier, 

 likewise describes it about the same date, " as one of the best countries 

 in Asia, as producing all the necessaries of life and standing in no need 

 of foreign supplies ;" also " as possessing mines of gold, silver, lead, 

 and iron, and as abounding in silk, and lac." Speaking of the natural 

 resources of Assam, Mr. McCosh observes : " This beautiful tract of 

 country enjoys all the qualities for rendering it one of the finest in the 

 world : its numerous crystal streams abound in gold dust and masses of 

 the solid metal : its mountains are pregnant with precious stones and 

 silver : its atmosphere is perfumed with tea growing wild and luxuriant- 

 ly : and its soil is so well adapted to all kinds of agricultural purposes 

 that it might be connected into one continued garden of silk, cotton, 

 coffee, and sugar, and tea, over an area of many hundred miles." 

 (McCosh's Topography of Assam, p. 133.) 



The people or nations mentioned by Ammianus Marcellinus, as in- 

 habiting the most fertile and productive region of Serica, are many of 

 those enumerated by Ptolemy. The Alitrophagi are (as Vossius inter- 

 prets the word) the Anthropophagi of Ptolemy, or the Androphagi of 

 Pomponius Mela : they occupied a mountainous country north of the 

 Annibi or Abor tribes, and are apparently identical with the Tikleya 

 Nagas of Dr. Buchanan, or the Mishmees of Bubbajeea reported to 

 Capt. Bedford, " as being a fierce race of cannibals."* The Annibi 

 referred to a situation on the northern side of the valley of Serica and 

 deriving their name, according to Ptolemy, from their own mountains 

 (Annibi a suis montibus denominati, Cellarius), are, beyond doubt, the 

 Abor tribes occupying the hills on the north side of the eastern part of 

 Assam. The Chardi would seem, from their name, to be the people of 

 the district of Chardwar : they are mentioned under the name of Oe- 

 chardi by Ptolemy, and as inhabiting a tract of country on the banks of 

 the river of the same name. In the Rabannce (the Nabbannae of 

 Ptolemy — rendered Rabannse by his commentators) are recognized the 

 aboriginal tribe or people of Assam called Rabhas. The Asmircz seem 

 to be the Miris. Ptolemy mentions their country as situated between 

 two rivers and as extending to the mountains of the same name (inter 

 fluvios Asmiree gens ad montes Asmireos, Cellarius) . The Bates are 

 evidently the Booteahs : they are erroneously described, as inhabiting a 

 * As. Res. Vol. XVII. p. 5,^3. 



