A History of Assam c21.59

c21.59

On the 15th March 1835, Captain Lister with two companies of the Sylhet Light Infantry, took formal possession of Jaintiapur and issued a proclamation announcing the annexation of the Jaintia parganas to British territory. A few weeks later Gobha, in the Nowgong district, was similarly taken over by a detachment of the Assam Light Infantry. The only income derived by the Raja from his possession in the hills was one he-goat yearly from each village, with a small quantity of parched rice and firewood for his annual religious ceremonies; the villagers were also bound to cultivate the crown lands. On his territory in the plains being annexed, the Raja professed himself unwilling to retain that in the hills, and so this also passed into the hands of the British. It was placed under the Political Officer of the Khāsi hills and the direct management was vested in an Assistant who was stationed at Jowai. The hillmen, or Syntengs, were interfered with as little as possible; no revenue was demanded from them and, although heinous offences were tried by the Political Agent or his Assistant, petty cases, both civil and criminal, were dealt with by the local headmen, of whom there were nineteen in all, *viz.*, fifteen *dolois* and four *sardārs*. Act VI of 1835 was passed to provide for the judicial control of the Khāsi and Jaintia hills.