Encyclopaedia Britannica > Volume 3, Anatomy-Astronomy

ASS
Assam. iung River rejoins the parent stream a short distance above
v die town of Gowhatty. The remaining rivers are too nu¬
merous to be particularized. Among the islands formed by
the intersection and confluence of the rivers is Majuli, or the
Great Island, as it is called by pre-eminence. This island
extends 55 miles in length by about 10 in breadth, and is
formed by the river Brahmapootra on the south-east, and the
Booree Lohit on the north-west. A Persian writer, Ma-
hommed Cazim, in describing Assam at the latter end of the
seventeenth century, makes some observations on its gene¬
ral appearance, which, as he bore no favour to the inhabitants,
may probably merit the greater confidence. He thus speaks
of Majuli—“ an island well inhabited, and in an excellent
state of agriculture ; it contains a spacious, clear, and pleasant
country. The cultivated part is bounded by a thick forest
which harbours elephants, and where these animals may be
caught as well as in four or five other forests in Assam. If
there be occasion for them, five or six hundred elephants may
fie procured in a year.” Describing the country south of the
Brahmapootra, the same author observes, “ across the river
on the side of Ghergong is a wide, agreeable, level country
that delights the heart of the beholder. The whole face of
it is marked with population and tillage ; and it presents on
every side charming prospects of ploughed fields, harvests,
gardens, and groves. From the village of Salagerah to the
city of Ghergong, a space of about 50 coss (100 miles), is
filled with such an uninterrupted range of gardens, plenti¬
fully stocked with fruit trees, that it appears as one garden.
Within them are the houses of peasants, and a beautiful as¬
semblage of coloured and fragrant herbs, and of garden and
wild flowers blowing together. As the country is overflowed
in the rainy season, a high and broad causeway has been
raised for the convenience of travellers from Salagerah to
Ghergong, which is the only uncultivated ground that is to
be seen. Each side of this road is planted with shady bam¬
boos, the tops of which meet and are entwined. Among the
Vegetable fruits which this country produces are mangoes, plantains,
products, jacks, oranges, citrons, limes, and punialeh, a species of am-
leh, which has such an excellent flavour that every person
who tastes it prefers it to the plum. There are also cocoa-
nut trees, pepper-vines, areca trees, and the sadij (an aro¬
matic leaf), in great plenty. Sugar cane excels in softness
and sweetness, and is of three colours, black, red, and white ;
there is ginger free from fibres and betel vines. The strength
of vegetation and fertility of the soil is such, that whatever
seed is sown, or slips planted, they always thrive. The en¬
virons of Ghergong furnish small apricots, yams, and pome¬
granates ; but as these are wild, and not assisted by cultiva¬
tion and engrafting, they are very indifferent. The princi¬
pal crop of this country consists in rice and mash. Ades, a
kind of pea, is very scarce, and wheat and barley are never
sown. And in respect to the other great division of the pro¬
vince he remarks, “ 1 he country which is on the northern side
of the Brahmapootra is in the highest state of cultivation, and
produces plenty of pepper and areca nuts. It even surpasses
the southern portion in population and tillage ; but as the
latter contains a greater tract of wild forests, and places diffi¬
cult of access, the rulers of Assam have chosen to reside in it
for the convenience of control, and have erected in it the capi¬
tal of the kingdom. The breadth of the Northern Division
from the bank of the river to the foot of the mountains, which
i> a cold climate and contains snow, is various, but is nowhere
less than 30 miles nor more than 90. The inhabitants of those
mountains are strong, have a robust and respectable appear¬
ance, and are of a middling size. Their complexions, like those
of the natives of all cold climates, are red and white; and they
have also trees and fruits peculiar to frigid regions.” Va-
rious agiicultural products appear to have been introduced
since the time of Mahommed Cazim. Wheat and barley are
now raised, though only to a small extent; but cotton, to-
A M. 763
bacco, and the poppy are extensively grown. The indi- Assam,
genous trees producing lac, and those yielding the gum
known as caoutchouc, are of great importance. But perhaps
the most valuable of the vegetable products of Assam is the
tea plant. This was first discovered in 1823, while theCultiva-
country was part of the Burmese dominions, by Mr Robert tion of tea.
Bruce, who had proceeded thither on a mercantile specula¬
tion. The war with the British breaking out shortly after,
and a brother of the first discoverer happening to be ap¬
pointed to the command of a division of gun boats employed
in some part of the operations, he followed up the pursuit of
the subject and obtained several hundred plants and a con¬
siderable quantity of seed. Some specimens were ultimately
forwarded to the superintendent of the Botanic Garden at
Calcutta. In 1832 Captain Jenkins was deputed by the
Governor-general of India, Lord William Bentinck, to report
upon the resources of the country, when the tea plant was
brought to his especial notice by Mr Bruce; and in 1834 a
minute was recorded by the Governor-general on the subject,
to which it is said his attention had been called in 1827 be¬
fore his departure from England. In accordance with the
views of that minute, a committee was appointed to prose¬
cute inquiries, and to promote the cultivation of the plant.
Communications were opened with China with a view to ob¬
taining plants and seeds from thence, and a deputation com¬
posed of gentlemen well versed in botanical studies was de¬
spatched into Assam. Some seedswere obtained from China;
but this probably was of small importance, as it was clearly
ascertained by the members of the Assam deputation, that
both the black and the green tea plants were indigenous there,
and might be multiplied to any extent; but another result
of the Chinese mission, that of procuring persons skilled in
the cultivation and manufacture of black tea, was of more ma¬
terial benefit. Subsequently, under Lord Auckland, a further
supply of Chinese cultivators and manufacturers was ob¬
tained, these being acquainted with the processes necessary
for the production of green tea, as the former were with those
requisite for black. In 1838 the first twelve chests of tea
from Assam were received in England. They had been in¬
jured in some degree on the passage, but on samples being
submitted to brokers and others of long experience and tried
judgment, the reports were highly favourable. It was never,
however, the intention of government to carry on the trade :
from the first it was proposed to resign it to private adven¬
ture, as soon as the experimental course could be considered
fairly completed. Mercantile associations for the culture and
manufacture of tea in Assam began to be formed as early as
1839, and in 1849 the government disposed of their esta¬
blishments, relinquishing the pursuit to the ordinary opera¬
tion of commercial enterprise. In 1851 the crop of the
Assam Tea Company was estimated to produce 280,000 lb.,
and the general aspect of the affairs of that company is de¬
scribed in their latest report as satisfactory and promising.
1 he climate of Assam is said to be more temperate than
that of Bengal, and subject to less variation. The warm
weather is moderate, and the nights cool and refreshing. The
mean temperature of the four hottest months does not ex¬
ceed 80°; that of the winter season amounts to 57°, and the
mean annual temperature may be stated at 67°. The rains
are of unusual duration, commencing in March and continu¬
ing till the middle of October. Earthquakes are frequent.
No less than twelve are stated to have occurred in the twelve
months between May 1834 and May 1835 : in 1845 a shock
was experienced at Nowgong, whereby considerable damage
was sustained.
A meagre sketch is all that is possessed of the geology of As- Geology,
sam. The mountains on the opposite sides of the valley are
characterized by distinct systems, those on the north being
composed of primitive formations, while those on the south
partake largely of sandstone, shell-limestone, and coal. Some