A History of Assam c13.41

c13.41

Gadādhar Singh was keenly alive to the importance of public works. During his reign the Dhodar Ali, the Aka Ali and other roads were made; two stone bridges were built, and several tanks were excavated. A noteworthy measure of this monarch was the commencement of a detailed survey of the country. He had become acquainted with the land measurement system of the Muhammadans during the time when he was in hiding in Lower Assam, before he succeeded to the throne, and, as soon as the wars which occupied the earlier years of his reign were over, he issued orders for the introduction of a similar system throughout his dominions. Surveyors were imported from Koch Bihar and Bengal for the work. It was commenced in Sibsāgar and was pushed on vigorously, but it was not completed until after his death. The method of survey adopted is nowhere described, but it was probably the same as that which was in vogue when Assam was first occupied by the British, i.e. the area of each field was calculated by measuring the four sides with a *nal*, or bamboo pole, 12 feet long, and multiplying the mean length by the mean breadth. The unit of area was the *purā*, which contained four standard Bengali *bighās* of 14,400 square feet.