78 
H. Blochmann — Koch Biluir and Asam. 
[No. 1 
the opponent or show its back. Elephants are large and numerous in a 
wild state in the hills. Gazelles, stags, nilgaos, and wild goats, are rare. 
In Ghargaon there were several cage-like enclosures, secured with strong 
and high poles. It is said that some elephant drivers of the Rajah rub a 
certain kind of grass over the body of a female elephant, and let her go 
among wild elephants when they rut. As soon as they smell the scent 
of the grass, they will run after her, and will even follow her to the 
enclosure to which the driver leads her, when they are caught. The Nawab 
tried in vain to get hold of one of the drivers. 
Gold is found in the Brahmaputra ; about ten thousand people are 
employed in the washings. Each man makes in the average a tolali of gold 
per annum, and hands it to the Rajah. But the gold is not fine, and sells 
for 9 or 8 rupees per tolali. 
Cowries are in use ; and rupees and muhurs, coined by the Rajah, are 
current. Copper is not current. In the hills of the Miris and Michmis 
who live in Eastern Asam, in Uttarkol, about eleven days’ journey from Ghar- 
gaon, musk deer and wild elephants are found. Silver, copper, and tin 
also are obtained in their hills. The way these people live, resembles the way 
of the Asamese. Their women are generally better looking than the women 
in Asam. They dread matchlocks, and say, “ A matchlock is a thing that 
makes a great noise, and does not stir from its place, whilst a child issues 
from its womb that kills a man.” The musk deer is also found in the 
mountains of Asam. The musk bags are larger than large [gram] grains, 
and have a fine colour and perfume. Lignum aloes, which is chiefly found 
in the mountains of Namrup, Sadiah, and Lak’hugar, is heavy, coloured, and 
has a strong scent. 
If Asam were administrated like other parts of the empire, it is quite 
possible that the land-tax and the revenue from wild elephants and other 
imposts might amoimt to 45 lacs of Rupees.* It is not customary to levy 
taxes from tho inhabitants ; but of every three people in each house one is 
taken for the service of the Rajah. If a man is lazy in what he is told to 
do, capital punishment is immediately inflicted ; hence the absolute sway 
of the Rajah, 
No Indian king in former times ever conquered Asam. Even tho 
intercourse of foreigners and the Asamese was very limited. They allow no 
stranger to enter their territories, and prevent their own people from leaving 
the country. Once a year, at the order of the Rajah, a party of Asameso 
used to visit the neighbourhood of Gawahatti and the boundary of the 
* Last year’s revenue of tho whole Asam Division, which contains tho districts of 
Durang, Kamrup, Lak’himpur, Naugaon, and Sibsagar, in addition to the Naga, 
Khasiab, and Jaintiah Hills, amounted to nearly 21 lacs (Rs. 20,93,374). 
