A History of Assam c21.80

c21.80

As the Bhutias in the north, so also the Khāsis, in the south of Kāmrup, had gradually established themselves in the plains; and the Ahom viceroy at Gauhāti, finding that he was unable to oust them, had contented himself with receiving a formal acknowledgment of the Ahom supremacy. This, however, meant very little beyond the exaction of as large a sum as possible on the accession of a new chief and the supply of *pāiks* when required for the public service. In other respects the local chiefs were virtually independent; and they exercised criminal jurisdiction, and even made war on one another, with perfect impunity, or at the worst, subject to the payment of a fine as hush-money. On the advent of the British these proceedings were speedily put a stop to, but, in order to conciliate the chiefs as far as possible, a separate court was established for the trial of civil and criminal cases, composed of the chiefs themselves and a few of their principal functionaries. In lieu of feudal service and of the charges formerly payable by new chiefs at the time of their accession, a moderate land assessment was introduced. The settlement was made with the chiefs, who were given a large share of the net profits, amounting in some cases to fifty per cent. Few of them, however, possessed any aptitude for business, and they soon fell into arrears; this led eventually to the sequestration of their estates. The special court mentioned above was abolished after the extension of the Code of Criminal Procedure to the province.