598 Notes on Northern Cachar. [No. 7. 



ever, aud thrive ; among these are ponies, sheep, rabbits, geese, 

 ducks, pigeons, &c. 



I must not omit to remark a notion which prevails among the 

 inhabitants of the country aud more generally among those who 

 have, comparatively speaking, recently become settlers, and that is, 

 that there is something detrimental either in the climate or the 

 locality to the proper generation, both of the human species, 

 and of animals. As proofs of this fact they bring forward nu- 

 merous instances of barrenness in women, and in domesticated ani- 

 mals, as well as miscarriages and production of abortions. I cannot 

 pretend to account for this phenomenon, otherwise than, as regards 

 the human species, from the fact that the women of the tribes 

 forming the population of the country have ascribed to them the 

 most laborious occupations both at home, and in the field ; their 

 duties do not even cease at times of advanced pregnancy, and this 

 may give cause to part of the accusation brought against the dis- 

 trict, but that part of the charge relating to barrenness, and the 

 whole as applied to animals, remains unanswered. 



North Cachar is not a country that pays ! Extensive as the 

 tract is, and fruitful and fertile though it be in a certain mea- 

 sure and considering that it is a mountainous country — yet the 

 inhabitants are rude and unlettered, have little knowledge of com- 

 merce, and no wish or care to raise more produce than that which 

 is required for their own consumption. The few articles that are 

 exported are bartered for salt, and iron, and a few paltry or- 

 naments, Manchester goods, even, not having found their way to a 

 place so remote. 



"With the exception of a little ground in the plains to the north, 

 there is no land settlement whatever in the district, each village 

 cutting down jungles in its own vicinity and cultivating thereon. 

 The villages are situated too far from one another to give rise to 

 many disputes regarding the right of soil, and moreover there is a 

 tacit understanding among them as to the right of possession of 

 certain grounds. The only tax levied by Government is a house- 

 tax, at the rate of one rupee per annum per house. The district 

 is divided into different mouzahs, for each of which a mouzahdar is 

 appointed, who is responsible for the collection of the revenue, and 



