1856.] Economic Geology of Assam. 331 



5, 6. Samples of ore — bearing plastic clay of Bosa Doyung. 

 7, 8, 9. Samples of clay iron from the Jeypore field. 



10. Sample of ore from the gorge of the Dergmoo river oppo- 

 site Dibrooghur. 



11, 12, 13. Samples of lime. 



In remote times and up to a certain period in the annals of Assam, 

 the valley was undoubtedly under Western India influence, and for 

 the commodities of salt and manufactured iron its inhabitants were 

 indebted to their trade and intercourse with Gangetic India. 



The period to which I allude dates from the commencement of 

 the supremacy of the Ahorns, early in the 16th century. This 

 people, a branch of the great Shan nation, by the overthrow of the 

 Chooteeahs (descendants of a "Western Indian race of Rajputs) 

 became masters of the Upper, and Central divisions of the province 

 and finally conquered the whole valley ; which, with Indo-Chinese 

 jealousy of foreign intercourse with the nations of the West, they 

 closed to the people of India, and trade was entirely restricted to 

 the Goalparah Chowkeys — then it was, that the inhabitants of 

 Upper Assam, at least, became dependant upon their own resources 

 in the articles of salt and iron. 



In regard to the latter article, we have evidence throughout the 

 whole of the Jorhath district that the smelting of iron was carried 

 on to a great extent, both from the quantities of scoriae visible at 

 different points between Jeypore and the Bosa Doyung, and the 

 number of native manufactured iron guns found throughout the pro- 

 vince, (but particularly in the Seebsagur district) varying in size 

 from a matchlock barrel to the great gun at B-ungpore (see note at 

 the end of table No. 2.) 



I cannot however do better than record the information I have 

 received on this matter both historically and statistically through 

 the collectorate of Seebsagur. 



In the year 1422 A. S., A. D. 1500 and during the reign of 

 Deehingeeah Swarga Narain, on the defeat of the Chooteeah 

 Kajah, after a war with these people, the Ahorns acquired many 

 fire-arms, one of which was named " Meeta Hoolaug." The victors 

 also captured many blacksmiths, and from this date blacksmith 

 shops were established for the manufacture of fire arms, and other 



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