The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1339,

The number and magnitude of the rivers in Assam,
probably surpass those of any other country in the world
of equal extent. They are, in general, of sufficient
depth at all seasons, to admit of commercial intercourse
in shallow boats, and during the rainy season, boats of
the largest size find depth. of water. Looking at the
general soil of Assam, which is said to be extremely
fertile—to the noble river which runs through the
valley—the innumerable streams falling into, or branch-
ing off from it, and the proofs derived from history of
its former affluence, there is no doubt that in the course
of a vary few years, under a more settled Government
than it has possessed for the last century, this province
will prove a valuable acquisition to the British Crown.
The existing state of agriculture is not very ad-
vanced, but there is no scarcity of provisions, while
numerous tracts of county are lying waste, that might
be brought into advantageous cultivation. The follow
ing are the chief productions.
Rice forms one of the principal crops, but is is of an
inferior quality.
The Sugar-cane grows well.
Cotton Wool is cultivated by the hill-tribes.
Opium appears to be grown to a considerable extent ;
the seed is sown in November. In March, when the
flowers fall, the juice is collected from the poppy-heads,
which are searificed diagonally on strips of cloth about
three inches broad ; and when fully saturated and dried,
they are tied up into small bundles. In using it, about
two inches of the cloth are infused in war, and drunk
as a draught : the cloth is afterwardtes chewed like
tobacco, till its virtues are extracted. The infusion of
the poppy-head, on the powered capsule, mixed with
water, is also drank.
Lack is prepared in large quantities.
Silk is grown of an inferior quality.
Coffee, it is stated, might be cultivated in abundance,
and with care, of good quality, and made most productive.
India Rubber is indigenous to the country.
Gums, many valuable, are found in the forest, but
the most important is Gum Copal.
Timber of a valuable character abounds in Assam, cal-
culated for a variety of purposes ; ninety distinct species
are given, some of which may be fitted to make tea-chests.
Iron is abundant in almost all the hill countries, and
coal and lime-stone have been discovered in several
places.
The tea-tree, according to Mr. M'Cosh, grows wild
upon the mountains, and is the identical tea-tree of
China. It grows as favourably upon the mountains
possessed by the dependent hill-tribes, the Kangtis,
Singphos, and Maattucks, as in the adjoining province
of China itself, and it only requires the same attention
to be bestowed upon its culture and manufacture, to
secure the same blessing to this country, which has for
such a series of years so materially added to the reve-
nues of the Celestial Empire.
It is a singular coincidence that the tea soils of Assam
and China are exactly alike.
Mr. M'Clelland, who formed one of the deputation
to Assam in 1835 sent to report on the soil and growth
of the tea plant, says it is an indigenous plant, ne-
glected by man, but in the full enjoyment from nature
of all those peculiar conditions on which its properties
will be found, under proper management, to depend.
The plant in China (according to a Parliamentary
paper) generally attains the age of fifty )ears, but some
live only ten. It is sown in November, December, and
January ; when the rains set in they conic up, and the
plants are fit for plucking in the third, and sometimes
in the fourth year. The quantity produced by each
plant in the season varies very much, some plants pro-
ducing only two rupees' weight, while others produce a
pound and a half ; but about a quarter of a pound, all
round the first crop, the second a little less ; and some
people never take a third, for fear of killing the trees.
It is the constant plucking of the leaves that keeps the
plants low.
Lord William Bentiack, with the concurrence of
the Government, promoted the inquiry for ascertaining
the quality of the plant, and the extent of country
where it could be raised, but latterly there has been
an indisposition manifested by the Supreme Govern-
ment to incur even the moderate expense proposed for
the maintenance of additional Chinamen. This, how-
ever is attributed to the circumstance that the Govern-
ment viewed the matter as one simply of experiment,
and left the prosecution of it to private enterprise.
Captaia Jenkins, in a letter to Lord William Bentinck,
from Gohati, May 6, 1838, thus describes the Assam
Tea-plant :—I have been long of opinion that the Tea-
plant " we possess was of the green variety, from the
great fragrance of the smell of the leaves. I have now
the great pleasure of informing your Lordship that
consider the question put beyond all doubt, for
within the last week I have had a specimen
of Tea manufactured as green Tea, from Mr.
Bruce, according to some information which
he has lately fallen upon. The Tea has been fully ac-
knowledged to be good green Tea, by every gentleman
who has drank it, and it has been drank as excellent fresh
green Tea by those who were led to suppose it came
from Calcutta. I have therefore entire confidence now,
that when the green Tea China manufacturers, who
are on the way up from Calcutta, commence operations,
we shall be able to send home green of as good a qua-
lity as that under dispatch." Flaying given these fa-
vourable views of the productions of the country, it is
proper to add, and it is admitted in the pamphlet, that
one district adjoining the British portion of Assam is
extremely unhealthy, so much so, that in a few years
this climate is fatal to Europeans. We have also
heard that the whole of the valley through which the
river flows, is generally unhealthy.

EDUCATION.

2,5001. shall be made to the National Society, and the
British and Foreign School Society, for the establish-
ment of their Normal Schools, but no further grant
to be made. That the Committee will not adhere
invariably to the rule which confines grants to
the National Society, and the British and Foreign
School Society, and will not give the preference in
all case whatever to the school to which the largest
proportion is subscribed. That in no case shall more
than one-half of the expense of building a school be
advanced, nor wilt the Committee expend in grants
for the building of schools more in any one year that,
10,0001. That Inspectors be appointed, not exceeding
at first two in number, to carry on an inspection of
schools which have been or may be hereafter aided
by grants of public money, and to convey to conduc-
tors and teachers of private schools in different part,
of the country a knowledge of all improvements in the
art of teaching, and likewise to report to this Commit-
tee the progress made in education from year to year ;
and that gratuities be granted to such teachers as may
appear to deserve encouragement.