328 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



claim the whole of those plains as their domain, but whether this claim is 

 the origin of their exactions, or whether the imbecile government of 

 Asam had allowed to grow into a confirmed custom, an evil which they 

 could not counteract, does not appear; however, from the Bhuruli to 

 the banks of the Dihong, the whole of the hill tribes pretend to similar 

 rights, and have never been interfered with, when, at the accustomed 

 season, they have descended from their strong holds and peaceably taken 

 their dues from each separate dwelling. 



I had an interview with Taling Gam, the most powerful of these 

 Abor Miris, and my presents of rum and cloth wrought so well with 

 him, that I entertained hopes of starting for his village in his company, 

 and had arranged to move off in canoes, to have the advantage of water 

 conveyance for my provisions the remaining navigable portion of the 

 river, which is said to be but three days. 



My enquiries had not elicited any information to warrant the expec- 

 tation of a successful result from this trip, as it appeared that the few 

 articles of Thibetan manufacture, found amongst this people, were acquired 

 by traffic with tribes more to the eastward : they would not acknowledge 

 any acquaintance with the countries to the north, but described them as 

 an uninhabited wild tract of hill and jungle. To their N. W., however, 

 they place the Onka Miris, whose country, they say, is a level table land, 

 and they are of opinion that these come in contact with the Hhotiyas — I 

 thought that by gaining a footing in the first villages in the hills, I might 

 either induce the people to throw off this reserve, if my suspicions of their 

 concealing their knowledge were correct, or perhaps advance sufficiently 

 far towards the north to make more effectual enquiries. I was disappointed 

 through the interference of the Asamese of the Sonar i villages, who 

 anticipated some unknown evil from our communication with their hill 

 neighbours, and this friendly Chieftain positively refused to accompany 



