A History of Assam c21.79

c21.79

The same weakness of the central administration which had led to the abandonment of the above Duārs resulted further east in the acknowledgment of the right of certain small tribes of independent Bhutias, and of the Aka and Dafla hillmen, to levy posa, or tribute, in certain villages along the foot of their hills. The Hazārikhowa Akas were thus permitted to levy from each house “one portion of a female dress, one bundle of cotton thread and one cotton handkerchief,” and the rights of the other tribes were similarly defined. The inconvenience of permitting these savages to descend annually upon the cultivated lands, for the purpose of collecting their dues, was very soon felt to be unbearable, and every effort was made to induce them to commute their claims for a fixed money payment. This was eventually done. At the present time a sum of Rs. 1,740 is paid annually to the Bhutias of Chār Duār; Rs. 146 to the Thebengia Bhutias; Rs. 700 to the Akas; Rs. 4,130 to the Daflas; and Rs. 1,118 to the Miris.