ASAM AND THE NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. 395 



My opinion was, that merely to shew the Mishmis, and to promise to 

 the Abors that they should stay, would not satisfy these shrewd people, 

 who would have required some better proof of the intention of the former 

 to remain. I had completed preparations for my return towards the 

 sources of the Brahmaputra, and it was with great regret* that I deferred the 

 completion of my plans in that quarter, but I yielded partly to the opinion 

 of Captain Neufville, the Political Agent, and what also greatly influen- 

 ced me in my determination to attempt again to advance from the Dihong 

 side, was the belief that as the Abors were aware of the presence of the 

 Mishmis at Sadiya, they might now be better inclined towards us, and that 

 at least so good an opportunity might not occur again for some years. I 

 was to be assisted also by having to present to the Abors a similar present 

 to what, it is said, was occasionally given by the Asamese Government in 

 former times. Another reason for a greater probability of success now 

 than before was, that I had received an invitation from the Abors of 

 Membu, to pay them a visit. During the rains I had dispatched to them 

 my active Agent, the Ltjri Gohain, to talk on the subject of their conduct 

 towards Captain Bedford and myself, and to explain our motives for so 

 anxiously renewing enquiries respecting the course of their river, in a 

 favorable light : they, in reply, sent me a round stone as an emblem of 

 the stability of their friendly inclination towards me : " until," they said, 

 " that stone crumbles into dust, shall our friendship last, and firm as its 

 texture, so firm is our present resolution." 



Having had some experience, however, of their uncouth manners, 

 and of their susceptibility of being suddenly influenced by the strange 

 harangues of their native orators, I requested to have with me a small party 



* I have regretted it ever since, as of all my plans it appeared the best calculated to ensure 

 success : certain knowledge would at least have been obtained from the Lamas, whether the Sampo 

 continues beyond the source of the Brahmaputra. 



