ASAM AND THE NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. 399 



paid to us, and but for their extreme good nature and forbearance, blows 

 must have ensued from the impertinence of these uncivilized vagabonds. 

 Though I had nothing to communicate, and did not expect to be much 

 edified by what I should hear, I acceded to their request, and went into the 

 " Morang" where the Chiefs had assembled, together with those of Siluk 

 also, (a neighbouring village). They seem wonderfully fond of holding 

 these palavers, at which their orators are heard with the utmost patience, 

 and with the most decorous avoidance of interference. Three or four 

 pronounced very loud and vehement orations, pressing for the return of 

 the Sadiya Mishmis, whom they were assured we retained for the sake of 

 profiting in revenue. I could only return general answers, and refer them to 

 Captain Neufville, the Political Agent. On other subjects, as the motives 

 of our wish to go through their country, they said less than I expected. 

 They speak in a remarkably emphatic style, dwelling upon each word and 

 syllable, in the midst of their political discussions, to which I thought there 

 would be no end. One old Chief, when it came to his turn, uttered a long 

 emphatic speech, with great gravity, and made me fearsome new dilemma 

 from an unanswerable question — but it was interpreted in very few words, 

 to be a simple query, how we came from our own country, and what sort of 

 a country that is 1 I informed them that I was the bearer of presents, to be 

 divided, according to their own custom, amongst the Abor, villages, and I 

 requested that they would take charge of them, and give notice to the Bor 

 Abors, that the concurrence of that more powerful tribe might be had for 

 an equitable division. They declined the office, and in return begged that 

 1 would make my own division. I had been given to understand, that 

 the influential men would not dare to accept any thing for themselves 

 in public, but I felt the difficulty of satisfying each in private, not 

 only from the numbers, but from my ignorance of the relative claims 

 of each to consideration ; it was therefore by open dealing, and by 

 the magnitude of the present offered to the whole, that I hoped to 

 succeed. 



