2. Haidie, (Bark,) Randle, from Singapore 4th and Malacca 9th January. Passengers from Singapore.-Mrs. Darrah and 2 children, Rev. F. J. Darrab, Madras Presidency. Elizabeth, (Schooner,) Spooner, from Singapore 25th and Malacca 28th Dec., and Penang 7th January. Passenger.-Mr. Hall, Mariner. 3. Louvre, (Amr.) Brown, from Boston 22nd Sept. Passengers for Calcutta.-Mrs. E. S. Tomlin, Rev. A. Sutton, lady, and child, Rev. E. Noyes and lady, Rev. S. S. Day and lady, Rev. J. Phillips and lady, Missionaries. For Amherst, Burmah.-Rev. Mr. Ingols and lady, Rev. J. S. Haswell and lady, and Rev. E. L. Abbott, Missionaries, Miss E. Macomber, Rev. Howard Malcom, Deputation from American Baptist Board of Missions, Mr. Harwood, Mechanic. For Singapore.-Rev. J. L. Shuck and lady, Rev. A. Reed and lady, and Rev. R. D. Devonport and lady, Missionaries; Mr. J. H. Weed, Supercargo. Salaryes, (French,) Williams, from Mauritius 15th December. 11. Exmouth, Warren, for London. - Passengers. Mrs. Col. Hopper, Mrs. Col. Bird, Mrs. Sherer, Mrs. Chalmers and 5 children, Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Eckford and 5 children, Mrs. Warren and 3 children, Mrs. Spens and child; 2 Masters Battye, Master Angelo, Cols. Hopper and Bird; Capts. Pyne and T. I. Warren; Lt. Baker; - Bird and Hopper, Esqs. St. George, Thomson, for Bristol. Passengers.-Mrs. Cardew and 2 children, Mrs. Stainforth and 5 children; Mrs. W. F. Clarke and 2 children, Mrs. Marshman and child, Mrs. Stephenson and 4 children, Mrs. Rankin, Mrs. Blenkin and child, Mrs. Patton and child, Mrs. Harjette and 2 children, Miss Williams; C. Cardew, Esq. C. S., Major Worrall, B. C., Captain Jackson, B. A., Lieuts. Strong and Holder, H. M. 13th L. I. Lieut. Lock, 5th B. N. I., Lieut. Trail, Engineers, Mr. Cockhay, Dr. Blenkin, Mr. Stephenson, Mr. Harjette, Mr. Patton, Miss Sophia Moncton, Miss Georgiana Wheatley, Masters Frederick Inglis, and J. R. Monckton; six European servants. Fattle Mobarruck, (Arab,) Nacoda Abdulla, for Muscat. Hamonshaw, (Arab,) Nacoda, for ditto. Ambassy, (do.) Nacoda, for ditto. Nassur, (do.) Nacoda, for Mocha and Judda. 12. Cowasjee Family, (Bark,) R. Wallace, for China. Futtle Rohoman, Nacoda, for Judda. 13. Elizabeth, (Brig,) Baker, for Kyouk Phyoo, Moulmein, and Rangoon. Collingwood, (Brig,) Hookey, for London. Mellekel Bahar, (Arab,) for Mocha and Judda. Samdany, for Malabar Coast and Macao. 22. London, (Brig,) McClean, for Liverpool. 23. -- Passengers.-H. L. Blandford, Esq. and Capt. P. Neville. Alexander, Ramsay, for Sydney. John Woodall, Arnold, for Liverpool. George Gardiner, (Amr. Brig,) Smith, for Philadelphia. 24. Nabob, (Amr. Brig,) Putnam, for Boston. 29. Jessy. (Brig,) Auld, for Moulmein. FEB. 3. Nerbudda, Patrick, for Bombay. Ernaad, Hill, for the Gulph. Lady Clifford, Stewart, for the Straits and China. Passenger.-D. McIntyre, Esq. Duke of Northumberland, Pope, for London via St. Helena. Passengers for London. -Mrs. Cumming, Mrs. C. Walker, Mrs. Holmes, Mrs. Daunt, Mrs. Platt, Mrs. Goad, Mrs. Chalmers, Mrs. Pope, Rev. Professor Holmes, Major Ferrice, 27th N. I., Dr. Daunt, H. M. 44th, Captns. Manning and Platt, B. N. 1., Dr. Stodart, B. E., Lieuts. Smith and Tucker, 9th Cavalry, J. W. C. Chalmers, Esq. 43rd B. I., Parish, Esq., 2 Misses Cumming, 2 ditto Brown, 2 ditto Pattle, 2 ditto Davies, 2 ditto Daunt, 1 Master Davies, 2 ditto Manning. 7. Washington, (Amr.) Taylor, for Philadelphia. Highland Chief, (Brig,) Taylor, for Colombo. 13. Isabella, D. Brown, for London. Passengers.-Captains Vernon, Warmer, Raily, and Rodgers, Lieut. Little, Rev. Mr. Anderson, -Robson, Esq. Misses Robson and Walkins, Mrs. Silver, Mrs. Brown, Mr. Graham. Hero, (Bark,) Hughes, for Liverpool and China. Meteorological Register, kept at the Surveyor General's Office, Calcutta, for the Month of January, 1836. Minimum Temperature observed at Sunrise. Lower Rain Gauge, (New.) Upper Rain Gauge, 29,978 61,7 59, 59, ,080 66, 67,7,65,2 N. N. 29,974 60,8 56,8 56,5 N. ,030 63,868,7 66,4 N. ,004 66,3 72, 69, 30,006 61, 56,5 56, N. ,064 64, 69,5 67, Nbyw,084 66,269,7 67, N. N. ,040 66, 72,6 69, 5 ,010, 62, 60,460,5 N. N. ,058 67,8 70,567,7 6 N. N. Nby E,976 66,5 75,3 73,4 N. W.,968 67, 74,5 72, 30,004 52,6,52, 51,7 ,11263,5 69,5 64,7 W. 21 ,036 60,5 56,355,9 25 ,078 55,7 52, 52,6 26 ,076 56,3 53,3 53,2 N. N. N. 27 ,118 56,2 53, 53,2 N.,154 62,4 69,364, N. w.,092 63,4 73,268,8 N. w.,038 65,5 75,9 69,8 N. THE CALCUTTA CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. April, 1836. I.-Appeal on behalf of the Lalongs, Mikirs, and other hitherto unknown tribes in A'sám. [In a letter from Rev. J. RAE to Capt. JENKINS, dated Bishnáth, 10th Feb. 1836.] [In a late article on the Missionary Prospects of A'sám, we referred to the numerous tribes in and about that province, who, on account of their freedom from the influence of caste and Hindu prejudices, presented an inviting field for the labours of Christian Missionaries. Our readers are aware, that since that time Messrs: Brown and Cutter, from the American Baptist Board of Missions, have proceeded to Sadiya, on the N. E. part of A'sám; and in the article above mentioned, we referred to the labours of Mr. Rae, of the Serampore Mission, who had been for some time stationed at Gowáhattí, the capital of the province. We have since been favoured by Captain Jenkins with the following letter to himself from Mr. Rae, with the Journal accompanying, detailing his travels across the Mikir hills, into the first Nága range. Both documents, we are persuaded, will be read with much interest, since Mr. R. is said by Capt. J. to be the first European who ever penetrated into that country. We are grieved to find, from the correspondence of several officers of Government*, as well as of Mr.R. that the Bráhmans are actively and successfully exerting themselves to bring these simple and interesting people under the withering influence of Hindu superstition. It is gratifying, on the contrary, to notice that efforts for their good are contemplated by the Serampore Missionaries; and we earnestly hope, should any circumstances prevent this body from extending their operations in that quarter, that the American Missionaries, who are now in the province, and will soon be joined by fresh coadjutors, will be enabled to establish among them a branch of their Mission. It is cheering to know, that if European Societies should find themselves restricted by want of funds or agents from enlarging their operations, America appears able, and zealously determined to pour into this part of the vineyard numerous and devoted labourers. Most cordially will they be hailed by their brethren of other climes. In an able Report on our N. E. frontier, lately drawn up for the use of Government by a very intelligent public officer, we have met with much interesting and novel information respecting other tribes in the neighbourhood of Aʼsám and Manipur. Permission to make use of it, as far as suitable to the pages of the C. C. OBSERVER, has been applied for, and we shall doubtless very shortly have the pleasure of presenting it to our readers.- ED.] As you take a kind and lively interest in the welfare of Asám, allow me to bring within the compass of a letter, for your obliging perusal, the most promising and interesting features In illustration of these remarks, we give the following extract of a recent letter from a gentleman, employed by Government to adjust the amount of annual tax to be paid by the Mikirs and Lalongs. I visited the S. E. part of it along the hills, and nearly as far up the Barpáni as boats can get to, then crossed over to the Kapilí. In all those places there are of the tribes inhabiting the hills on the south bank of the Baramputar, and in the district of Noagong, viz. the Nágas, Mikírs, and Lalongs, amongst whom I have lately been travelling ;-and to endeavour at the same time to show the feasibility of doing something for their moral and religious instruction; more especially amongst the Mikirs and Lalongs, who, although inhabiting different hills, and speaking different languages, are yet connected together by simplicity of manners, and are entirely void of those Hindu prejudices, which form such a barrier to the spread of knowledge in Bangál. The Nágas inhabit the hills farthest from the station of Noagong, on the east, and close to the Dunúsírí river, which forms the boundary of Upper and Lower Asám. Being in a more savage state than the others, and frequently quarrelling with the Abhor Nágas*, who inhabit the hills in the same range, it would not be so easy to reach them with instruction, as the Mikirs and Lalongs. Still they cultivate the soil, are located in one place, and are not in the habit of emigrating from one spot to another and I am led to think, from my recent visit, that however savage they may be, there are no fears for any one residing amongst them. The Nágas on our side are a small number, compared with the Abhor Nágas, who inhabit the hills in Upper Asám, but they are all the same in their customs, &c. They may be computed at about 3,000+. In my recent journey to their chans (villages), I was quite surprised to see the neatness of their appearance, and the industry of the people. But it must not be overlooked, that although entirely free from caste, and not having the least idea in regard to its being unclean to eat this or that, they may be said to be a nation of drunkards; for at every ceremony, such as marriage, burial, and worship, they drink a quantity of liquor, (mad,) made from rice, which has an intoxicating effect. This, humanly speaking, may form a barrier to their moral and religious lots of jungle and forest, most beautiful lands, and likely to be cleared before similar ones in A'sám, the population being well spread over them; two or three square miles of cultivation and houses, then five or six of jungle lands; next again, a village, and so on all the way. "Almost all the population settled in the low lands between the hills and the Barpání and Dimlá, are Lalongs and Mikirs. Finer ryots, I would never wish to have to deal with. But few of them are Hindus, and those that have been converted have been so very lately. The Brahmans have not neglected that vineyard; since the Barmese expulsion they have been labouring diligently in making converts, as these poor people are nearly fools in the hands of those fellows, who care no further about them than to get a revenue out of them. The Rájás and Bisáyars spoke to me about having some one to teach them to write." * The Asámese divide the Nágas into Bor-Nágas, i. e. Tributary or Dependent Nágas, and Abhor, independent.-F. J. + Dependent on us, and in the Noagong District.-F. J. instruction; but a very feeble one, compared with the strong bulwark of Hinduism in Bangál. On turning to the Mikír tribe, we find a great difference:not in regard to drunkenness, for they are much the same in this respect; but in simplicity and honesty, as far as their knowledge of honesty goes. One instance in confirmation of this, and greatly to their honour, is, that there is not, I believe, an instance of a Mikír ever having been brought before any of the public functionaries in Asám for a serious offence. They are, correctly speaking, when compared with the other tribes, in a civilized state, and are the most inoffensive race of people that inhabit the various hills in Asám. War is quite out of the question with them; indeed, they are very timid. They have no written character; consequently none can read. They inhabit the hills on the south bank of the Baramputar, in the district of Noagong, running from N. E. to S. E.: but numbers are scattered up and down the country of Lower Asám, near the hills, principally near Gowáhattí. Many of them are bondsmen, and are accounted next to, or better than the Kachárís in regard to industry. The account of their origin, which I received when in their hills, was, that they had originally come from the Jyntíah hills, and were formerly under the Rájá of that country*. This is their own tradition; whether it is true or not, may perhaps be a question those who informed me, however, said, that they could understand some of the Jyntíah language, as also some of the language of the Ahoms (original natives of Asám); and one man went so far as to say, he thought his language a mixture of Ahom and Jyntíah. They have no caste nor prejudice whatever with regard to food, and are entirely uncontaminated by the superstitions of the Brahmans. They have, however, one peculiarity; they do not eat the flesh of the cow, or drink her milkt. Whether this prejudice has originally sprung from Bráhman influence or not, no one among them could tell me. On being ques tioned concerning it, their only answer was, it was always so. Had it been got from the Bráhmans, it may also be inferred, that they would have had some prejudice with regard to abstaining from eating the flesh of swine, fowls, &c.; but this is not the case; all these are eaten, and are always used in their ceremonies of worship. Now it is well known, that the Bráhmans, in making Bhokits (disciples), which they have done extensive * They appear to have occupied the hills E. of Jyntíah, which we call the Kachár hills, before the Kachárí tribe overran that part.—F. J. + The custom of not drinking cow's milk, shows their connexion with the Indo-Chinese nations.-F. J. |