POPULATION OF ASAM. 3^7 



the same name, is situated about six miles inland, on the Kundil Nala. 

 This district is also tributary to Asaniy and properly a part of it, but is now 

 nearly laid waste, and inhabited principally by refugee Khamptis and Ma- 

 luhSf driven by the Smh-phos from their original seats to the south-east. 

 It is governed by a Khampti Prince, who has assumed the Asamese title of 

 Sadiya Khawa Gohein, claiming the same descent from the god Indra, with 

 the Rajas o? Asam, the chiefs of the Mowamarias, Shams, S^c. 



The Khamptis of Sadiya and its neighbourhood emigrated towards the 

 plains, now occupied by the 6'm/^-pAo5, in the reign of Rajeswar, or Raja 

 Gaurinath, within the last half century, at which time that part of the terri- 

 tory remained in its original integrity. They obtained permission to esta- 

 blish themselves on the Theinga^ and settled at Lqffa-bori, where they re- 

 mained till the flight of Raja Gaurinath, during the civil wars, when they 

 took forcible possession of Sadiya, ejecting the then Sadiya Khawa 

 Gohein, and reducing the Asamese inhabitants to slavery — they have main- 

 tained it, uniting with the Burmese interest, during their invasion and oc- 

 cupation. They seem to be a tall, fair, and handsome race, particularly in 

 the higher classes, far superior, in personal appearance, to the tribes surround- 

 ing them. 



In their religious worship and observances, there is no perceptible dif- 

 ference between them and the Burmese Shans, who are all Buddhists. 

 The only idols adored are Gautama, and his sainted disciples, but they seem 

 extremely ignorant of the principles and tenets of their own faith. The 

 Khamptis assert, that from the opposite sides of a lofty mountain, called 

 Doi Sao Pha, rising from the midst of four others of stupendous altitude, 

 to the eastward of Asam, and separating it from their country, spring the 

 Sri Lohiti the Lohit of Asam, or the Brahmaputra, and the Irawadi, the 

 last flowing south to Ava, About twelve miles to the north-east of 



