1855.] Notes on Northern CacJiar. 595 



hewn out of solid sandstone of diminutive and ill-formed propor- 

 tions. A few bel fruit trees, providently planted by the would-be 

 founders, nourish, which, as the fruit is considered an infallible reme- 

 dy for many diseases, would have been very useful to the inhabitants 

 in such an unhealthy situation. 



North Cachar, considering that it is a vast tract of rough ir- 

 regular and intricate mountains, is nevertheless a productive coun- 

 try, and crops are raised on the hill sides, with very little more 

 labour than what is required in cutting down the jungles. 



Eice of course is the staple produce — the method of cultivation, I 

 shall afterwards describe. The rice varies in quality, and some sorts 

 are very inferior, others again are much better than the generality 

 of rice grown in the plains. Cotton of a very excellent quality is 

 grown by most of the inhabitants, and is perhaps the only arti- 

 cle exported in great quantities. Besides these, the jooms are 

 planted with common sorts of vegetables, such as byguns, kud- 

 doos, cucumbers, &c. ; tobacco, sugar-cane, Indian corn, and the 

 castor-oil plant all grow well, and are cultivated, but to no great 

 extent. 



The chief natural productions of the country are bamboos and 

 timber. Both of these are abundant, but can be turned to little 

 or no use, owing to the difficulties of conveyance. Coal and lime- 

 stone are known to exist in different parts of the district, but 

 for the same reason are unavailable beyond their immediate neigh- 

 bourhood. Salt wells are found in many places throughout North 

 Cachar, but chiefly in the neighbourhood of a Cacbari village 

 called Semkur. Two gallons of the brine yield about a pound 

 of salt, which is of tolerable quality, but prized only by the hill- 

 people. Bees-wax is found in abundance among the rocky hills 

 and in the forests, and is taken down for sale to the plains. 

 Iron in small quantities is obtained from clay, and is manufactured 

 by the inhabitants into spears and daos. Elephants abound 

 in the jungles of Toolaram's country, and ivory might be procured 

 in any quantity ; but there are few hunters in those parts, con- 

 sequently only a very little finds its way to the markets. Lac-dye 

 of a good quality is found, and used by the inhabitants in dying, 

 as is also wild indigo. A strong coarse silk cloth is made by 



