New-York tribune., 1901-08-04
QUEER ASSAM TRIBESMEN
LITTLE KNOWN PEOPLE ON THE FROM
TIER OF INDIA.
From The Hnmeward Mail

From The HOmeward Mail.
In no part of the world can the student of
ethnology and evolution find better material
for research and thought than on the Assam
frontier From the Akas and MiriS in the north
to the Looshais in the south the country be-
tween Assam and Burmah is peOpled by the
strangest of human beings III various stages of
clNliization, whose habits and customs are OF
SURPRISING interest. showing the degrees and
methods by which man emerged from the dark
ness OF SaNaSery. Among the Assam frontier
Tribes are to be found in actual process of
growth all those functions of government ana of
human relationship the evolution of which Ia,
been the life study of our keenest philosophers
1T happens. however. that certain physical oh
stacits stand in the way of gathering very in
inmate acquaintance with the tribesmen. They
lNe III country exceedingly difficult to travel
over and when not actively hostile are as shy
ana tmid as wild animals in the presence of
strangers Further, the government of India,
IN It's anxiety to avoid all cause of friction on
the frontier not only does not encourage bat
actually fOrcbly prevents white men from en-
terlnS the country of of the most inter
estinss tribes We have some knowledge of the
itooShais, NagSas and Manipuris, but these peO-
PIE are civilized compared with the Akas. Dallas
aritls' Apofs. Mlsh1nis. khamtis and Singphos.
Inc only people who can get glimpSes into the
NE OF the last named tribes are those officers
" II" are prouSnt INTO political relationship with
theIn, and they are so busy with administrative
duties as TO have little leisure for phiosophic
inquiry. The government of India has recent
SHOWN an awakened interest in what we
might call the romantic and imaginative side.
OF lhdlan administration. though. of course the.
StuuS OF romance can be strictly
! as that OF anything else and perhaps that
we are to have directOr-generaI of archa,-
oi0gy' We might also have director-general OF
ethnography. The one would find as much mate
rial in India the other Nowhere as already
Indicated. is there more room for speculative
study than on the Assam frontier
FOR the present. however continues the writer
we are constrained To depend official publ
cations, with all their reticence and inaCcura-
Cies. Tor our knowledge of the fascinating Girdlr
that encircles Assam Manipore. of course is
the most important frontier State. IL will al
ways he connected with the terrible occurrences
that took place there in 1888 We have pun
/ lshrd murder, outrage and the worst form uf
treachery by bestowinE the people set
Tied and orderly form of government. but il is
. strange to read a remark. presumably by Colo
mel MaN"ei. 10 the effect that the Mahara jah
Marjit was able restrain the offences of
h"usebreaking and cattle lifting. to which Mani
puIlS are especially prone. better than
But the Maharajah's methods were peculiarly
Manipuri. He cut off the feet and hands of all
. Offenders. The other big State on the Assam
frontier is. Of course. Bhutan. but with il We
have very little to do except to go through an
extraordinary ceremony yearly of exchanging
presents. whereby the Bhutas go home not only
I richer. hut with a very poor opinion of our wis
dom. In the year under report the BhutiaS
were given 1000 rupees in cash and her
presents and in return they presented to the
government two Bhutia blankets two yak tails.
TWO cups. two pieces of muslin and Bhuti;t
pony. All these items were sold at public auC-
tnn for IO-l l. rupers. and the sale proceeds We're
. credited to the government. The thardUar
Ehutia Sat rajahs came into TcZpore Feb
Tuary -. l1h and were paid their posa allow
anCc Of 2..,.6-i rupees in cash. with other pres
+ cntS- They. in return. presented the govern
m"ut with three blankets. Ehuta bag and 4
yak tail The rajahs reported that there was M
disease disturbance in their hills. The The
bcnEia EhutiaS tn reZpOTe March ..
1900 and received liI-ii-G rupees in cash with
the usual accompaniment of scarlet broad
cloth. etc They presented in return two biau-
kcts. yak tail and few ChilIies. The Ehu-
tias who came down to receive posa paymen s;
were given To understand clearly that they have
no longer any 'bohotia' claims upon any of our
plains people. and that there must be no sort
Of tyranny oppression or eXtortion of mOncy y
practiscd against any of our subjects whatever.
on pain of stOppaGe of poSa payment With
regard To the Akas. Dailas and Mirs. are
told very little except that they received pres
ents and, like the Bhutias presented us with
! Valueless articles in exchange.