GHIRGONG, the capital of Asam in Hindostan is, according to Mr Pennant, situated in latitude 26° 30' north. He does not state its longitude. It has four gates, and the city is encompassed with a bound hedge of bamboos. The Rajah's palace is surrounded by a caufey, planted on each side with a close hedge of bamboos, which serves instead of a wall. On the outside there is a ditch, which is always full of water. The Rajah's seat is adorned with lattice work and carving. Within and without have been placed plates of brass, so well polished, that when the rays of the sun strike upon them they shine like mirrors. It is an ascertained fact, that 3000 carpenters and 12,000 labourers were constantly employed in this work during two years before it was finished.
The Asiatic Researches speak much of the wealth of Asam, and of the plenty and excellency of its natural productions, and that it abounds in all metals but tin. Gold is found in every part of the country by washing the sand of the rivers, and is one of the sources of revenue; 12,000, some say 20,000 people, are employed in that work, each of whom has from the Rajah a certain wages. Its gum lac is excellent, and it is very productive of silk.
Among the fruits which this country produces are mangoes, plantains, jacks, oranges, citrons, limes, pine apples, and pinala, a species of tamarind, 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, and the areca trees. The sugar cane excels in softness and sweetness, and is of three colours, red, black, and white. There is ginger free from fibres, and betel vines. The strength of vegetation and fertility of the soil are such, that whatever seed is sown or slips planted they always thrive. The environs of Ghirgong furnish small apricots, yams, and pomegranates; but as these articles are wild, and not assisted by cultivation and engraftment, they are very indifferent. The principal crop in this country consists in rice and lentiles. Wheat and barley are never sown; lignum aloes is also a production of this country. The silks are excellent, and resemble those of China, but they manufacture very few more than are required for use. They are successful in embroidering with flowers and in weaving velvet.—One of their great forests is inhabited by abundance of elephants: 6 or 700 may be taken in a year, but they are neglected by the natives, who have neither horses, camels, nor asses, such as are brought from other countries.
According to our author, "the people of Asam are a base unprincipled nation, and have no fixed religion. They follow no rule but that of their own inclination, and make their own vicious minds the test of the propriety of their actions. They do not adopt any mode of worship practised either by heathens or Mahomedans, nor do they concur with any of the known sects which prevail among mankind; unlike the pagans of Hindostan, they do not reject victuals which have been dressed by Moslems, and they abstain from no flesh except human. They even eat animals that have died a natural death."
On this passage, one of the ablest of our literary journalists observes, that in justice to the people of Asam, we must remark, that the above account, extracted from the memoirs of Mir Jumla's expedition into that country, was composed by a rigid Mahomedan, at the court of that fanatical tyrant Aurangzeb. The author and his master saw, in the Asamese, only idolaters; and, in idolaters, the meanest of mankind. Their diet, though less restricted than that of the Hindoos of Bengal, is by no means promiscuous; and their religion does not in any way differ from that of Hindostan,—as might easily be proved by their coins, inscribed with the names of Hindoo deities.