1855.] Notes on Northern Cachar. 593 



This measure was very skilfully carried out by Lieut. Bivar in the 

 cold weather of 1853-54, and it is to him that I am indebted for 

 my information regarding the country. 



On the death of Grobind Chunder, therefore, it was only a small 

 belt of the hill-country, about 1200 square miles, that came into our 

 possession, and this tract was placed under the jurisdiction of the 

 Superintendent of Cachar. In 1839 it was transferred to the Assam 

 authorities, it being supposed, that they were better able to protect 

 it from the ravages of the Angami Nagas, which had become fre- 

 quent and bloody — and now an assistant to the Commissioner of 

 Assam, administers to the whole tract, including Toolaram's terri- 

 tory. Although undoubtedly a portion of the valley of Assam, I 

 doubt if the transfer from the jurisdiction of Cachar was attended 

 with much benefit, access from the latter place being so much easier, 

 and the distance shorter, than that from the nearest station in 

 Assam. 



The deputation of an European officer specially to these hills has 

 however been of the greatest advantage, as it has put a stop to 

 blood-feuds and internal dissensions among the tribes, which were 

 frequent under the old regime, and continued to be so till very lately. 



At first a small police thannah was located at a Naga village 

 called Hussung Hajoo, presided over by a darogah, who, under the 

 Assistant Commissioner of Nowgong, had the whole charge of the 

 district. Great irregularities and some oppression arose from this 

 system. Nor was the peace of the country properly maintained, and 

 although European officers used to make periodical tours through 

 the hills, yet murders and affrays among the Nagas continued to 

 take place even during their presence in the country. Moreover it 

 was necessary that a larger body of troops should be located in 

 the country, and, as offensive measures hud ceased to be our policy 

 towards the Angami JNTagas, it was determined to take up a line 

 of defence along the frontier. 



Eor this purpose Lt. Bivar arrived in N. Cachar in 1851-52, and 

 took up a position at Goomai-Groojoo, a small Naga village, on an 

 isolated hill about 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. This 

 station, a very fine one in most respects, was afterwards abandoned, 

 owing to a scarcity of water, and to the fact that after Toolaram's 



4 i 2 



