A Sketch of Assam: With some account of the Hill Tribes

by Major John Butler

In the palmy days of the Ahoom Government it is not certain that this system existed; but on the Ahoom Rajahs becoming proselytes to the Hindoo creed, they and their followers degenerated; and being unable to check by force of arms, the inroads of the numerous hill tribes both on the north and south frontiers of the valley—a space of 400 miles, accessible by innumerable passes—they readily permitted the tribes to levy black mail once a year on certain portions of land called Dooars. Thus were continual hostilities averted, and the Ahoom Rajahs had leisure to pay attention to their own affairs. Intestine commotion, however, worked the destruction which foreign aggression was restrained from accomplishing.

CHAR DOOAR DUFFLAHS.

No. of Chiefsin each Khel or Clan.	No. of Khels or Clans.	Name of Khel or Clan.	Amount of Pension.
			Rs.	Ans.	Pice.
23	1	Phering Ooela	97	8	5
20	2	Oopur Takoolea	108	5	2
21	3	Nam Takoolea	196	14	1
21	4	Rapo Oolea	76	11	4
46	5	Paee Olea	234	12	2
7	6	Oopur Taolea	17	1	11
2	7	Nam Taolea	3	10	7
3	8	Chana Oolea	23	6	7
37	9	Oopur Tabungolea	106	2	9
	10	Purbutea village, Mekla Gaum, Deka and Bur Gaum extinct	4	8	4
	11	Jeynath Hya Babang Gaum, of Kuchla Barru, extinct	0	8	3
	12	Names of chiefs unknown, extinct	150	0	0
180		Total	1020	0	0

DUFFLAHS OF NOW DOOAR.

No. ofDooars.	Name of Dooars.	No. of Chiefs	Name of Chiefs	Amount of Pension
				Rs.	Ans.	Pice.
1	Bihalee Dooar.	1	Tamoo Gaum
		2	Tetae
		3	Ruma
		4	Nerbow
		5	Tumes
		6	Emakolee Gaumnee
		7	Hollee Gaum
		8	Hathemorea Huraporah	58	9	7
2	Gong Dooar.	1	Bhoot Gaum
		2	Ruma and Gamoo
		3	Akho Chalee Gaumnee
		4	Changdur Gaum
		5	Rao
		6	Nizboo and Burkmal
		7	Rungoa and his son Byragee	82	2	8
3	Bagmara Dooar.	1	Gopee Gaum
		2	Papoong and Kadoo
		3	Sedae Gaum
		4	Teeta Gaum
		5	Lalloo
		6	Kowa
		7	Baboo
		8	Madoo and Paree	29	5	11
4	Sakhoo Mata Dooar.	1	Deka Gaum, Bogle, and Rumgka
		2	Chale Gaema, Gotoa Gaum
		3	Kena Gaum	262	8	5
5	Chooteah Dooar.	1	Babung Gaum
		2	Bengala Gaum
		3	Bengakoe Gaum
		4	Chengolee Gaum
		5	Hanoo Gaum
		6	Tadung Gaum
		7	Hanoo Gaum
		8	Peroo Gaum
		9	Durpur Gaum
		10	Taggee for Talee
		11	Teloa Gaum
		12	Tamar
		13	Durrung	234	0	3
6	Kuchlahbaree Dooar.	1	Phedula, Bhedo Jey, Nizae Bulae Jey Gaums
		2	Ladoom
		3	Onee
		4	Rungoma
		5	Tajur	66	1	3
7	Chandhur Dooar.	1	Jeyram Gaum
		2	Ketula Haree
		3	Bogee Gaum
		4	Hetoo Gaumnee	137	12	8
8	Gurea Dooar.	1	Beroo Gaum, Seram Nirboo Keah Gaum
		2	Dhunae Darkeh	46	11	10
9	Bakula Dooar.	1	Neema Gaum
		2	Gobind Gaum
		3	Peroo Gaum
		4	Tama, Jagura, Nerum Lekejoo Luchoo, Begora, Oozeer, and others
		5	Chengalee and others
		6	Khakung Gaum
		7	Halee
		8	Chedar	606	5	1
			Total paid to Now Dooar, Dufflah Chiefs	1523	9	8
			Total paid to Char Dooar Dufflah Chiefs	1020	0	0
		58	Total	2543	9	8

London: Printed by Stewart and Murray, Old Bailey.

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[1] The name of the Moa Mareya Muttuck Gosain is Nahor; he is called Ushtobhoj, the eight handed priest, or an incarnation of the Deity: a title which he assumed in order to receive greater adoration from the people. He established his claim to the title by a device or deception. Making three men stand behind him, from under a covering they presented their hands in front of his body, and these, with his own, made his credulous disciples believe he really had eight hands. Having also some defect in his legs, he was known by the appellation of the Lame Moa Mareya Priest Nahor. [↑]

[2] This princess was the daughter of the Munepore Rajah; she was first married to Rajeswur Sing, and afterwards to his brother, Luckme Sing. The Muneepories are called Mogolies, and a tank, temple and an estate is to this day called the Mogolie Princess’s Pokhuree and Khat. In the Assam annals, she is called Koorung Neyune. [↑]

[3] Abor is derived from the Assamese word boree, friendly; aboree, unfriendly. Thus we understand the term Abor Nagas, Abor Dufflahs, independent or hostile tribes; and this designation seems common to all rude tribes in Assam. [↑]