334 GEOGRAPHY AND 



The Mowamarias, or Mormis, are subject to one Chief, called the JB^r- 

 sejiapati, who also acknowledges allegiance to his Lord Paramount, the 

 Rajah of ^5fl!m : he has successfully maintained his independance, and pre- 

 served his country from ravage during all the late convulsions, as well from 

 the Burmese, as the Sinh-phos, and all the neighbouring predatory tribes. 



The Mowamarias are Hindus, worshippers exclusively oi Vishnu ; but they 

 appear very negligent of the proper observances, and religious opinions of 

 their faith, and are scarcely considered by the natives from our Provinces, as 

 witJiin the pale of Hinduism. They are almost as much addicted to plunder, 

 as the wild tribes surrounding them, and were held in equal dread by the 

 Asamese. The present place of residence of the Barsenapatt, is Banga Goi^a, 

 on the Diburu, and is nearly centrical. The former capitals, called Bara and 

 Chota Saliri, near the head of the river, being too near the Sinh-pho border. 



Resuming the right bank above the head of the Mojouli, and the Siti 

 district, the river pursues a iidct now quite barren of culture, and covereu 



with trees arid jungle, until it approaches the first line of hills, and washes the 

 country inhabited by the tribe of Mins, a nearly barbarous race, rudely 

 rmed with bows and arrows, and differing altogether in language, appear- 

 ance, and manners from the inhabitants of Asam proper. They have some 

 villages on the bank, of which Motgaum is p-mcipal; having- been recently 

 e-peopled by the Gaum, or chief, who resumed, his aUegiance to the .d'sam 

 ;overnment, and claimed protection from the Mil ^wrA', Ms lieigllboiarso 

 The Miris, as well as the Abors, are very expert in the management of 

 'i^hebow : they make use of a deadly vegetable poison to' tip their ai'ro-^;„ 

 vhich g.-ows in the hills of the Mtshmi and Bor Abor tribes, and is much 

 iirized : they employ it also to kill wild animals, whose flesh is not rendered 

 mwholesome by its operation. The country inhabited by the Miris, ex- 

 ends from the Sisi district to the Dihong river, which flowing from the 



