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Art. I. A description of A'sám: extent and boundaries of its three principal divisions; with notices of the states and tribes bordering on the north and south.

In presenting a description of A'sám, we feel a little embarrassement It seeming to inform our readers on a subject with which we are aware some of them must be much better acquainted than ourselves. But the growing importance of the country, a connecting the dominions of Great Britain, Burmah, and China, and the recently discovered fact that the tea shrub is growing indigenous in it, will excuse our attempt to extend the interest we feel in this bordering state. Much of our knowledge respecting it is derived from a series of excellent articles in the Friend of India, and the Calcutta Christian Observer; to which valuable periodicals we confidently look for further authentic information, both respecting this and other parts of southeastern Asia. In the present article we shall confine ourselves chiefly to a description of the country and its adjoining tribes, leaving an account of its government, productions, and prospects to a future number. Respecting its history, it will be sufficient for the present to observe that it was annexed to the British territories in 1625, as a consequence of the Burman war. Since then successively the kingdoms or districts of Jynteah, and Káchár, hare been added; and Manipir is much under British influence. Thus the British government have under their immediate dominion or influence, all extent of territory on the eastern border of Bengal, more than three hunderd miles in length and two hundred in breadth. So far us we understand the political relations of the government, lieutenant Charlton is the resident at Sadiya; major White, as political agent, usually resides in Upper A'sám; but the authority of captain Jenkins, the governor general's commissioner, is paramount throughout the whole country. They are all apparently pursuing liberal and enlightened course of policy lowards the natives under their control.

VOL. V. NO. II.