| A DUFFLAH. | A DUFFLAH CHIEF’S WIDOW. | A DUFFLAH CHIEF. |
London: Smith, Elder & Co. 65, Cornhill.
In 1836–37, an agreement was entered into with the Dufflahs to forego their extortions on receiving from the British Government a fixed sum in lieu of all demands. Unlike the Booteahs, who cannot live in the plains, the Dufflahs seem disposed to adopt agricultural habits; and considerable numbers have deserted their hills and located themselves in the plains, paying revenue for the land they cultivate at the same rate as our Ryots. From these symptoms of industry, we are led to hope that in the course of time others will follow their example, and descend from their hills to enjoy the protection of the British Government; when their condition will be greatly ameliorated.
In Char Dooar there are no less than one hundred and eighty Dufflah chiefs, belonging to twelve distinct clans, who receive 1,020 rupees per annum in lieu of the black mail formerly extorted from the Ryots. In the Now Dooar, there are nine dooars (passes or tracts of country leading into the northern hills) occupied by fifty-eight Dufflah chiefs, who receive compensation or a pension from Government of 1,523 rupees 9 ans. annually in lieu of black mail; making a grand total for both Dooars of 2,543 rupees 9 ans. 8 pice. It remains only to notice the amount supposed to have been collected as black mail by the Dufflahs from the people in Now Dooar previous to the year 1836–37, when a pecuniary compensation was given to the Dufflahs in lieu of this objectionable exaction. The contributions levied as black mail were nearly all given in kind. On the arrival of the Dufflahs once a year, from their mountains in the Now Dooar, it was their custom to take from the Sahoorea Ryots Government free pykes (or men), from each house:—
| Rs. | Ans. | Pice. | |
| 1 seer of salt, valued at | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 seers of rice | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ready cash | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 0 | 6 | 0 |
and if the ready money of one anna was not paid, a Moonga, or Erea Gumcha, or handkerchief valued at three annas was taken instead. On their return to the hills, another cess or contribution, amounting to 7 rs. 10 ans. was levied from each village or community, fixed originally at twenty houses; and whether they had decreased or increased in numbers the Dufflahs neither reduced nor augmented their demand. The articles taken from each village consisted on this occasion generally of—
| Rs. | Ans. | Pice. | |
| 1 Erea cloth, valued at | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 Moonga Gumcha handkerchief | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 cow | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| Cash, as a present | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rice, 1 bhar | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 duck | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1 seer of salt | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 seer of oil | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | 10 | 0 |
Besides the Sahoorea, or free population, there were four villages (Baghmarra, Bihalle, Sakomata, Bakola) wholly inhabited by Cacharees, who were denominated Bohoteahs, or slaves; being free men bestowed originally by the Assam kings for a particular purpose or service. This caste or tribe the Dufflahs especially considered as their slaves, from whom they claimed the right to collect two-thirds of the produce of their labours. Each Bohoteah received from the British Government two poorahs of land, and one rupee only was taken from him as revenue, or capitation tax; being two rupees less than that paid by the Government Pykes. The remission of two rupees granted in his favour, was to enable him to meet the demands of the Dufflahs against him, in addition to the following amount of black mail, viz:—
| Rs. | Ans. | Pice. | |
| 1 Erea small cloth | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 Moonga gumcha | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 chunam (or lime box) | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 1 kuttaree, or knife | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1 jappee hat or umbrella | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 bhar of rice | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 duck | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1 seer of salt | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 seer of oil | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 |
From this it would appear that the Bohoteahs paid to the Dufflahs five rupees each in produce; while the free population was assessed at the rate of about eight rupees per village of twenty houses, which would average about six annas four pice per house. From the free and slave population united, as far as we have means for determining, the sum realized in kind from the inhabitants of the whole Dooar, amounted to 2,503 rs. 10 ans. 6 pice; so that in reality the Dufflahs have gained by the money substituted for black mail.