1847.] Periplus of the Erythrean Sea t fyc. 65 



which stood near the sacred fountain of the Brahmaputra. Hence 

 Assam was called Serica, and its staple commodity, viz. silk, was desig- 

 nated Sericum, while the other articles of merchandize, which were 

 exported from it, were distinguished by the adjective Seric, as 2rjpt/ca 

 Sfpfiara Seric skins ; ferrum Sericum, Seric iron. 



Essidon, called Issedon Serica by Ptolemy to distinguish it from Is- 

 sedon Scythica which stood in Thibet or Bootan, was the capital of the 

 Issedones, who appear to have been the most powerful of all the nations of 

 Serica. They are described by Ptolemy, as a v*y* edvos, and by Ammi- 

 anus Marcellinus, as "omnium splendidissimi ;" and from the situation 

 assigned to their territory, it is probable that their capital stood in the 

 vicinity of Ghergong, or Rungpore. Ghergong or Kirganu, as it was 

 anciently called, (Vide RennePs Memoir, &c. p. 299,) appears to be the 

 Kangigu of Marco Polo. Marsden remarks that this country is desig- 

 nated " Cargingu" in the early Italian Epitome. It is described as a 

 kingdom situated eastward of Bengal, and as having voluntarily sub- 

 mitted to the authority of Kublai Khan. The people are stated as 

 being idolators and as having a peculiar language. The country is 

 described as abounding in elephants, gold, and many kinds of drugs, 

 but being an inland country distant from the sea, there is no opportu- 

 nity of selling them. The inhabitants lived on flesh, rice, and milk ; 

 and tattooed their bodies.* The Ahoms transferred the seat of gov- 

 ernment to this place from Hulagari Nuggur, but from the architec- 

 tural remains which are still to be seen in its vicinity, it would appear 

 to have been, before it became their capital, the site of a city which 

 belonged to a people far advanced in civilization. 



Asmira was the capital of the Asmirae, whose territory is described 

 by Ptolemy as situated below the mountains of the same name (subque 

 iis Rabbannae Asmiraea est regio, supra ejusdem nominis montes, PtoL). 

 It probably stood in Lackimpore, where the Chutteeahs, a branch of the 

 Shyan family had possessions, before the Ahoms came into Assam. 

 There are various remains of antiquity to be seen in Lackimpore, as 

 tanks, and the remains of an embankment called Rajghur, which, Lieut. 

 .Dalton remarks, "bears the appearance of having been constructed as 

 a rampart against the inroads of the hill people." He describes it as 

 being "a stupendous work." (Journal Asiatic Society, Vol. XIV. p. 252.) 

 * Marsden's Travels of Marco Polo, p. 455. 



K 



