A History of Assam c21.61

c21.61

At the time of the annexation of the Jaintia parganas there was a considerable trade in cotton, iron ore, wax, ivory and other articles, which were brought down from the hills and exchanged for salt, tobacco, rice and goats, but business was much restricted by injudicious monopolies and heavy transit dues. Moreover, very little money was in circulation, and nearly all transactions were by means of barter; "the labourer mostly satisfied the demand against him with labour and the producer with produce." All rents were paid in kind, and one of the difficulties experienced by the early British administrators of the tract lay in the substitution of money for produce rents. Under the native administration it had been the custom to remunerate the official staff by grants of service lands. Civil suits and criminal cases were referred to a *mantri* or other official, who after hearing the parties and their witnesses, made a verbal report to the Raja. The latter, on all important occasions, was under the necessity of consulting the Queen Mother, the officers of state and the *dolois*, or chiefs of districts. In appointing the latter he had to consider the wishes of the people, who were of a very independent and rather turbulent disposition.*