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246 BlRMAH.
1817, the Birrnan.s succeeded, under Minderajee-praw,
in acquiring entire possession of the country.
The general appearance of Assam is that of a num-
ber of irregular, insulated hills, at short distances,
clothed with trees and verdure to their very summits,
while to the north and east, lofty mountains rise ab-
ruptly, like a wall, to the height of from 5 to 6000
feet above the adjacent plains. On the S.W., a less
elevated range separates it from Sylhet, and, extending
southward through Cachar, forms the bold and
lofty sweep of the Anou-pec-tou-miou. The western
mountains, and part of those to the north, are inhabited
by a fierce race consisting of two tribes, the Abors
and the Meshmees, of whom little is known. The
latter extend down to the eastern hills, and mix with
the Sing-fos. These formerly consisted of twelve
tribes ; and about forty years ago, the poverty of their
native soil, and the fertility of the plains of Assam,
induced the Sing-fos to settle in the plains, which they
cultivated by means of Assamese captrves, whom they
carried off from the southward. At the commencement
of the late campaign, there are supposed to have
been about 15,000 of these Assamese vassals held in
bondage : the greater part have been already liberated
by the British.* In these Sing-fos, we may recognise
a Birman tribe subjecting a native race of Carayns.-f
From similar beginnings, doubtless, arose the empire
of Ava.
The mountainous country extending from Sylhet
to the plains of Assam, and from about half way between
Laour and Doorgapore eastward to Cachar, is
inhabited by the people called Cossyahs (or Cassayers),
* Asiat. Journ., vol. xxi. p. 495.
t In the word Sing, we have evidently the distinguishing appella-
tion of the warrior caste. See p. 97-