326 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



Mursing gaon is situated on the left bank of the Bhuriili. The information 

 collected by him from respectable Towang people, places that town three 

 days farther north on the Bonash river, which joins the Brahmaputra at 

 Goalpara. 



The possession of the whole of Asam, by giving us access to so many 

 points for enquiry on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, appearing now 

 so much in favour of an attempt to solve the geographical problem of the 

 connexion which this river has with the Sanpo, I was detached from 

 the Asam force, by Colonel Blacker, and instructed to act under the 

 guidance and support of Mr. Scott, in the prosecution of this most 

 interesting inquiry, and for the purpose of consulting with that gentleman, 

 was directed to proceed to Goalpara. 



I received Colonel Blacker's instruction at Goalpara. Mr. Scott 

 had, in the meantime, neglected no opportunity of gathering information, 

 but the Asamese proved fully as incurious as our subjects of Hindustan, 

 and we found that even in directing our attention to the points best fitted 

 for oar first attempt, we should receive scarcely any aid from the best 

 informed amongst them. As a specimen of the style of the few traditions on 

 the subject which they were found possessed of, I shall give an extract from 

 one of their books famished bv Boga Damra Phokend,* who, we were 

 told, is rich in the possession of such lore. 



Judging from this wild story as a specimen, it might be inferred, that 

 the Asamese account of the singular rise of the Dihong in 1735 (?) is not 

 well authenticated. Not only, however, have we the evidence of their his- 

 tories for this fact, but sufficient proof exists in the great alterations in the 



* Boga Damra, white calf, a jocular name given here by the common people : his real name 

 I do not recollect. 



