1845.] On the Meris and Abors of Assam. 429 



remained of their own free-will, who settled in the valley, and are still 

 to be found there. 



The Tenae appear to be a very peaceably disposed people, but they 

 occasionally are compelled to take up arms to punish marauding 

 Abors, and they are said to do the business at once effectually and 

 honorably, whilst the Meris and Abors confine their warfare to noc- 

 turnal and secret attacks, and, if successful in effecting a surprise, in- 

 discriminately massacre men, women, and children. The Tenae declare 

 hostilities, march openly to attack their enemy, and make war only 

 on men, and their revenge does not extend beyond the simple attain- 

 ment of their object in taking up arms. If this be true, it places them in 

 a high rank, as a humane people, amongst our Mountain tribes. Tema 

 is my authority for both assertions, humiliating as it should have been 

 to him, and honorable to them ; but he made the confession of the Meri 

 mode of waging war without any remorse of conscience. 



Assured that a more particular and better authenticated account of 

 a people so sequestered and peculiar, would be interesting, I would, if 

 permitted, next cold season make every effort to visit them, in the 

 manner least calculated to excite jealousy or alarm. Their country 

 is most easily accessible from the Duphla Door ; but I am not yet well 

 acquainted with this tribe, and am not prepared to say that it would 

 be safe to attempt a passage through their country without a strong 

 guard, which would defeat my object entirely ; and having, I think, 

 secured the good-will of the Meris, I would prefer their route, though 

 said to possess more natural difficulties ; ascending the Soobanshiri as be- 

 fore to Siploo Ghaut, I propose, after having paid Tema's country a 

 second visit and explored such of the Sowrock country as lies on this 

 side of the Soobanshiri, to proceed to the Turbotheah villages. The 

 Turbotheah have promised to assist me in every way from Tema's 

 village to their own, and as the Aukas or Tenae are only two good 

 marches from the Turbotheah Meris, I should hope to be able to make 

 amicable arrangements with them and the intervening Abors to permit 

 me to proceed in safety to their valley. 



I cannot hold out any very sanguine expectations of being able to 

 penetrate so far as to behold Thibet from the mountain tops, or to gain 

 much knowledge of that country ; but without crossing the snowy range 

 there is a vast extent of interesting country to explore, and if Mr. 





