Gazetteer of Manipur, the country between it and Ava and some of the adjacent hill tracts. Prepared, under the direction of Major D. Macneill ... by Lieutenants J. West and C. B. Little

Front matter

GAZETTEER OF M^&R,-^ / o / lie a /, r y t. n /va? THE COUNTRY BETWEEN IT AND AVA, AND S^W-'-THE^JfflJ^œ/ HILL TRACTS. \i;^*y^^A PREPARED, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MAJOR DOUGLAS MACNEILL,,. MADRAS INFANTRY GENERAL LIST, DEPUTY ASST. QUARTER-MASTER GENERAL, BY lO'j LIEUTENANTS J. WEST and C. B. LITTKg-X - — -_ s y~ T. V. A. 2ND SO>t. L. I, \J FOB THB ISTELLiaKS-CE BI__._rC_t, QUAETEB-MASTEB OEXEBAL's DEPARTMENT IX INDIA, JIABCH 1SS3. CALCUTTA : PRINTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA. 1884. CONTENTS. IV Page Treaty of Yandaboo recognised Manipur as a free State ..... 36 Political Agent established at Manipur ........ to. Kubbo compensation allowance .......... ib. Raids of hill tribes ............ 39 „ Looshais ..'.......... 41 Manipur co-operates with British in punishing Looshais ...... ib. Treaty with Gambhir Singh .......... 42 Manipur local force in 1837 .......... 44 'Manipur Militia . . . . ... . . . . . .ib.

CHAPTER IV.

— NATURAL HISTORY. Wild animals . . . . • • . . . . . .46 Domestic animals ............ 48 Breed of ponies ............ ib. „ cattle ............ 49 Cultivation .............. 49 Fruits 50

Chapter I. Geography

The country inhabited by the Manipuris is, by the Burmans, called [Kathay, which term they also apply to the people; by the inhabitants of Cachar, it is named Moglie ; by those of Assam, Mikli ; and by the Shans and those who inhabit the country east of the Ningthee or Chindwen, it is known as Kassay, of which term the Burmese word Kathay is a corruption. The territories of Manipur have fluctuated at various times with the fortunes of their princes, frequently extending for three or four days' journey (30 or -10 miles) east of the Ningthee and west to the plains of Cachar ; its boundaries in 1837 were, on the west, the Jeerei river, from its source to its confluence with the Barak, and from this point south to the mouth of the Chikoo or Toogaiee nala, which, falling from lofty ranges bordering on the Trepara country, flows into the Barak, at the southern extremity of a range of mountains, three sides of which are embraced by the tortuous course of this river.

Pemberton says — " The confluence of the Chikoo with the Barak is a point particularly important, as it marks tbe union of the boundaries of no less than three States — those of Manipur, Cachar, and Trepara. From this point the southern boundary of Manipur is very irregular and ill defined ; the hills between the Chikoo nala and the great range forming the western boundary of the Manipur valley are occupied by wild tribes. From the meridian of the valley the boundary line again trends in a south-easterly dirpction until it readies tbe right bank of the Imphan Toorel, when it follows the course of that river due south down to parallel 23° 557 it then runs east, and terminates at the foot of the great chain of mountains which separates the valleys of Manipur and Kubbo. The eastern boundary line runs nearly due north along the eastern foot of the same chain up to the north east course of the Jooshoopa country in lat. 25° 5' ; on the north, the great central range which, running from north-east to south-west, separates Assam from Manipur, has been the generally-received line in that direction.-" The territory which now constitutes the Native States of Manipur consists of a large tract of hill country and the valley proper of Manipur.

BorNDAEY. It is bounded to the west hy the British district of Cachar and the Naga Hills Agency ; to the north by the Naga tribes, yet unsubdued, and the Naga Hills Agency ; to the east by the Kubbo valley, a portion of Upper Burma; and to the south by the collection of Kuki tribes called by various names, and in various states of barbarism. Some of these latter tribes are pushing forward towards the north-east, and in a few years will probably, together with the Tankhool Nagas and Burma, form the eastern boundary. This was demarcated in 1882 as follows : — Eastern Frontier. The demarcation of this part of the Manipur frontier had become neces sary for several reasons, the principal being that while no definite line existed, the Burmans were able to support some villages of Kukis, whom they had sent with the intention of annoying Manipur, to settle on lands claimed by Manipur, from which they raided on and enslaved the Manipur Naga tributaries, and from whence they could not be dislodged without the pro bability of bringing on a war which, as it would have involved us also, it was the policy of Government to prevent.

Since the time when Manipur, much more powerful than now, made raids on Burma, and carried their arms to the Irrawaddy, and Burma in retaliation raided on Manipur, and slaughtered men, women, and children indiscriminately, the two peoples have been bitter enemies, and it became necessary to clearly define the boundary between them. The boundary as laid down in 1834 prescribes that the whole of the Kubbo valley should be given to Burma, and that the boundary line north of it should be drawn so as to separate the Ungoching hills in the east (which are in Burma) from the continuation of the western range of the Yumadoung or Malain hills, which are in Manipur. Looking at the map of the country as now surveyed, it is clear that the line drawn from near the Kongal thana eastward to the Talain river, then up that stream, and northward along the Nissanga and Kassom range, most nearly agrees with the terms of the agreement.

This boundary was laid down in 1882. Art_a. The total area of the territory under Manipur is upwards of 8,000 square miles, the valley portion of which, or Manipur proper, is only 6,500 square miles, the remainder consisting of mountainous land inhabited by a variety of hill tribes speaking at least twenty different languages. The valley of Manipur is situated almost in the centre of tbe large tract of mountain country extending between Assam, Cachar, Burma, and Chittagong. Its height is about 2,570 feet above tbe sea-level, with drainage from north to south. General appearance of Valley. The principal features met with are rice-fields, swamps, small muddy rivers, bamboo clumps, barren hills of low elevation, and common-looking villages. Immediately on crossing the last ridge from Cachar the tree jungle disappears, and the eastern slope of the hill range is bare and covered with grass ; scarcely a tree is to be seen, save in the ravines which occur at intervals along the range.

Looking down the valley the first object that presents itself is the Logtak lake ; south of this, and up to the boundary of hills in that direction, the valley is almost entirely uncultivated and covered with grass jungle. To the north and east, villages are seen, and in the distance to the north, in a corner under the hills, lies the capital ; here the GEOGRAPHY. country is well wooded and more densely populated than in any other part. Towards the east the view is bounded by the Hearok range of hills, which divides the valley from that of Kubbo in Upper Burma. In the valley arc several small ranges of hills running in various directions, nearly all bare of trees, and covered with scanty crops of grass. Several rivers from north and west enter the Logtak lake, from which one emerges, and, uniting with others, flows from the valley to the south.

The general shape of the valley is that of an irregular oval ; its length is about 36 miles, and greatest breadth about 20. [Br. Brown.] Scenery in the Valley. The scenery in the valley is very uninteresting and monotonous ; rice fields, swamps, small muddy rivers, bamboo clumps, barren hills of low elevation, common-looking villages*, — these are the principal features met with ; the presence of the varying outline of the hills surrounding the valley, however, relieves all this and redeems what would otherwise be tame and uninteresting. To the traveller between Cachar and Manipur, the first view of the valley of Manipur is obtained from the eastern slope of the Limatol range of hills, nearly 2,500 feet above the plain below. It is striking and peculiar; immediately on crossing the ridge the tree-jungle disappears, and the eastern slope of the hill range is bare and covered with grass ; scarcely a tree is to be seen, save in tbe ravines which occur at intervals along the range. [R. Brown, 1873.]

Hills and Mountains. The following is a list of hills and mountains within Manipur territory : — To the north. 7. Mao range. 8. Tangal hills. 9. Kutung Laiya. 10. Pbubah. 11. Koleah Ching. 12. Angamie. 1. Kowbru. 2. Nungphow. 3. Myaug-Khong. 4. Sudiem. 5. Thimbah Karung. 6. Muram Kholel. North-east. 1. Sakok Ching. 2. Massom Cbing. 3. Mukeng Ching. 4. Chuoyai Cbing. 6. Kbamsole Ching. 6. Lysul Ching. 7. Kajai Cbing. 8. Ngari Ching. 9. Thyboong. 10. Lyi.1 11. Prowi. 13. Lupah.a 14. Mupithel. 15. Hungdung. 16. Ok-Khurul. 17. Huining. 18. Nungbi Nunghar. 19. Makku Ching. 20. Chatik. 21. Siroki Farar ridge and peak. 22. Chingsow peak. 23. Kassom peak and ridge. 12. Tangkhnl.- West. 4. Althui. 1. Khonga Khul. 2. Lang Khong. 3. Aung Khul. 5. Khebbu Chin. 1 Lyi is the Grazipliimai of the imp * Thesr arc not individual range?. ■I South 6.

Hangsi-pat-lel. 7. Suitol. 8 Molbung. 9. Chibu. 10. Howbik. 1. Thang Ching. 2. Khong Sungkul. 3. Lelbang Chiugsang. 4. Chungbeole. 6. Taeklapai. Fast 1. Heerok. 2. WabaChing. 3. Kaiphum Cbing. 4. Unapukpi (or) Yangapokpi. 5. Uchalpakpee. 6. Hainupokpi or Hytookpokpi ? 7. Numthow. 8. Komen Cbing. 9. Noungmai Cbing. The hill ranges found within the area under Manipur rule generally run north and south, with occasional connecting spurs and ridges of lower elevation between them. Their greatest altitude is attained to the north, about four days' journey from the Manipur valley, and here hills are found up wards of 8,000 feet above the level of the sea. From this point south until the sea is reached, towards Chittagong and Arracan, there is a steady decrease in the height of the bill ranges ; to the north, again, until the Assam valley is reached, there is the same gradual decrease in height.

The general aspect of the hill ranges is that of irregular serrated ridges, occasionally rising into conical peaks, and flattened cliffs of bare rock. Sometimes, as in the western range of hills overlooking the Manipur valley, the summit of the bills presents a more open and rolling character, and facing the valley is an extent of hill land comparatively flat and of considerable size. Extent of Hill Country. By far the largest tract of country owned by Manipur is that situated in the hills surrounding the valley. The total area of tbe hill possessions of Manipur is probably about 7,000 square miles, and the population is roughly computed at 74,000. This area has gradually extended since the re-establish ment of the Manipur power, after the Burmese war of 1824. [Rr. Rro/viii] The mountainous chain which forms our eastern frontier may be con sidered a ramification from that which, sweeping round the . south-eastern border of the Assam valley, stretches nearly due west along tbe northern frontier of the Sylhet district, and terminates in the great southern Lend of the Burhampootra river in longitude 90° east.

This point of divergence is situated between the 26th and 27th parallels of north latitude, and the 93rd and 94th degrees of longitude; from thence it runs south for about 60 miles, bounded by the plains of Sylhet and Cachar on the west, and the valley of Manipur on the east, with a mean breadth of from 80 to 120 geographical miles; the loftiest points of this great chain are found at its northern extremity on the confines of the Manipur territory, where the peaks attain an elevation of from 8,000 to 9,000 feet above the sea, and average from 5,000 to 6,000. [Captain Pemberton, 1835.] Routes. Thobal is the general point of departure for parties proceeding to the Burmese frontier, and the routes most generally frequented are those vid Muchee and Imole, both of which, after crossing the Muring hills, pass into the Kubbo valley, from whence, as occasion requires, troops may advance with GEOGRAPHY. equal facility north to Samjok, or south to Khumbat aud Kulay, through a level and well-watered, but nearly uninhabited, valley, covered from one extremity to the other with dense bamboo and lofty forests of sal, keo, and teak trees.

The first route, or that vid Heerok and Muchee, is from Thobal to Tummoo 46| miles, of which nearly 36 lie among the hills ; the total distance of the second, vid Imole between the same points, is 49| miles, of which only about 27 miles pass over the hills. Unlike those between Cachar and Manipur, the hills on this side have but few steep or precipitous passes to be overcome. On the Muchee route, after reaching the summit of the range from the Manipur valley, which is attained by a gradual ascent, the road passes over a series of undulations, few of which are of any extent, and no single river is met with. On the Imole route there is une rather steep descent into, and ascent from, the Lokchao river, but the remainder of the journey presents no difficulty to the advance of laden cattle. On both routes the supply of water is scanty, and it would be necessary to march any large body of troops across by detachments, to ensure them an adequate supply of this essential article.

On the north of these routes there is another, which leaves Manipur at Sengmiee, and, passing through the villages of the Tangkool tribes, enters the valley of Kubbo at its north-western extremity, a few miles west of Sumjok ; on this route there is but one river crossed, the Turet, which is always fordable, and it is the best by which a detachment destined to advance against Sumjok or Monfoo could proceed. Further south, through the Anal and Mueeyol tribes of Nagas, several other lines of communication are shown on the map, by which the southern extremity of the Kubbo valley might be entered, if necessary, directly from the hills ; but they are all so much more circuitous than those already described, that they could only be usefully employed by troops destined to make a flank movement against a Burmese army already in possession of Kubbo.

Tummoo, which has always been the principal stockaded position of the Burmese garrison while in the Kubbo valley, is the general rendezvous of parties proceeding from Manipur into the Burmese territory; and if it be intended to reach the Ningthee, the Ungocbing hills which separate Kubbo from this river must be crossed, or a voyage be made between them down the Maglung river, which falls into the Ningthee, south-east of Tummoo. Of tbe routes across the Ungoching range, there are five between Monfoo and the Maglung, and three between the latter and the Khumbat division. Of the five first, all are practicable for light-armed troops and laden coolies ; but none for laden cattle, except the most northern, which leads from Sumjok to Monfoo, and a second from Khongdong to Hueelao on the right bank of the Ningthee.

Major Grant, who has visited the latter route, considers it equally practicable with the former, and superior to it as far as regards the supply of water, which is here abundant. The total distance from Khongdong to Hueelao is 49 miles, which may be made in four marches. Of tlie remaining routes north of the Maglung river, all leave the Kubbo valley at Tummoo, and terminate on the Ningthee at Hueelao, Oktong, and Ungoong, near the confluence of the Maglung with that river. Of the three routes south of the Maglung river, the first leads from Weetop across the Ungoching hills to the confluence of the Maglung and Ningthee rivers ; the second, by which the British officers in Manipur have always travelled, extends from Sarawoonting Kol to Sunayachil ghat, opposite Gendah, the principal Burmese post on the Ningthee; and the third from Khumbat to the mouth of a small nala about 2 miles below Gendah.

By this latter route, Alompra advanced in 1758 to the conquest of Manipur, and it is represented by the natives of the country as a good one. The Ungoching hills, wherever traversed by these routes, may be crossed in three easy, or two forced, marches ; they are in every direction covered with forest, consisting principally of sal, teak, and keo trees, and a great variety of bamboos ; they are wholly uninhabited, and in the more central parts are but scantily supplied with water. The Ningthee river, from Monfoo to Sunayachil ghat, varies from 600 to 1,500 yards in breadth, and the only ford known to exist is one a little below the mouth of the Maglung, and for the truth of there being even this one we are entirely dependent on the information obtained from the native inhabitants of Kubbo. The total distance from Banskandee, our most advanced frontier point of departure in Cachar, to Sunayachil ghat, on the right bank of the Ningthee river, by the Kala Naga, Imole, and Sorawoonting Kool routes, is 203 miles, of which the following detail will give a clear idea : — Marches.

Miles. Furls. Yards, From Banskandee to Thobal . . . . 13 103 0 17 „ Thobal to Tummoo 6 49 6 10 „ Tummoo to Sunayachil .... 6 50 3 122 25 203 1 149 From Sunayachil ghat by the Ningthee and Irrawaddy rivers to Ava, the total distance is about 300 miles, and across the country by the route traversed by Dr. Richardson, 221 miles, of which the first portion, extending the distance between Gendah opposite Sunayachil ghat to Moukadau Myo, is 72 miles; and the latter, 149 miles, through a highly cultivated and fertile country. [Pemberton, 1835.] Rivers. The rivers in the valley of any volume all take their rise in the hills to the north and north-west, and are insignificant in size and breadth, although carrying a large body of water with a rapid current during the rains. The chief rivers are named the Impal, Iril, Thobal, Nambul, and Nambol ; the first three, rising in the hills to the north, flow eastward to tbe Logtak and do not fall into it ; the other two, which rise to the north and north-west, fall into the Logtak, from which one stream, the Kortak, emerges ; this eventually joins with the others to form one river, the Sengmaiee, which flows south, and eventually falls into the Ningthee or Chindwen river in Upper Burma below the town of Gendah.

The Iril or Kbonghar river, which flows through the capital, rises in the hills to the north of the Manipur valley ; this river is navigable for a short distance only for small boats from the capital ; further progress is then impeded by rocks and rapids. The junction of the rivers of the valley south of the Logtak lake forms one river hy name " Maithi Turel," or Manipuri river; it is also called "Achowba," or large; it goes also by many other names amongst the Manipuris. This river flows nearly due south, and enters the hills at Sugunu to the extreme GEOGRAPHY. south of the valley. The river is navigable for small craft with difficulty for two days below Sugunu, when further progress is barred by lofty falls. The Maithi eventually falls into the Ningthee or Chindwen river some distance below the town of Gendah in Burmese territory.

Rivers in Hill Territory. The rivers crossed in the hills lying between the Manipur valleys and Cachar, and which are the largest and most important of those rising or flowing through its hill territory, are as follows : — Jiri river. Mukru „ Barak „ Erung river. Lengha „ Limatak „ The Jiri River. Coming from the west, the first river met with after leaving Lakipur is the Jiri, which forms the boundary between British and Manipur territory from its source to its termination in the Barak. The Jiri rises in the hills to the north-east of the Cachar district, and flows nearly due south until Godam ghaut is reached ; here it makes a bend and flows west to Jiri ghat where the Government road crosses ; making another bend here, it flows south again, and after, a course of about 12 miles falls into the Barak river.

From its junction with the Barak, it is said to be navigable for small dhingis for five days. In the dry weather the Jiri is fordable ; it is also crossed by a propped foot-bridge of bamboo ; during the rains a ferry boat conveys passen gers across. The river is about 40 yards wide, and its bed is full of snags and trunks of trees. On the Manipur side of the Jiri commences a large and valuable area of dense forest, which extends on either side, but especially in a southerly direction, for many miles ; this forest contains much valuable timber, India-rubber, &c. Mukru River. The next river met with descending the Mukru range to the east is the Mukru, which flows nearly parallel with the Jiri. Rising east of the Jiri from the hills to the north near the Burail range, which separates the watershed of Assam from that of Manipur, it flows south and falls into the Barak, about 18 miles below the point at which it is crossed by the road to Cachar.

The Mukru is not navigable for any part of its course. This stream is beautifully clear, about 45 yards broad, and well stocked with mahseer fish. It is easily fordable in the dry season; the bottom is of large pebbles and round water-worn stones ; the water about knee-deep. In the rains, and when the water is too high for fording, a bamboo raft is used, which is attached to strong canes stretching across the river from bank to bank and fastened to trees ; the raft moves along tbe canes, and is pulled across by the party on it. The current is swift in the rains, and is too deep to be fordable for several months. Barak River. The Barak, the largest and most important of the rivers in the Manipur hill territory, rises east of the Mukru under the Burail range of mountains ; flowing south-east, it receives in its course, besides several small unnamed streams, first the Mukru, next the large river which rises further east than the Barak, the Erung; still pursuing a southerly course, it receives at the southern spur of the mountain range, continuous with the Kala Naga range of hills, the Tepai river, which flows north from the Looshai country.

The Barak now makes a short bend, and flows nearly due north until it receives the waters of the Jiri, after which the one river thus constituted, still named the Barak, enters the British territory and flows west through the Cachar valley. The Barak is named by the Manipuris the Quaee, and is said to be navigable for canoes for about one day above its junction with Tepai river. This river is fordable in the dry weather, with the water thigh-deep ; the bed of the river is of small boulders, and the stream at the ford is about 60 yards wide, with a moderately strong current. Immediately above the ford the river expands into a wide pool, and above this again contracts between high banks. The forest jungle at this part is heavy and dense ; below the ford of the Barak, on its right bank, the hill is almost perpendicular and densely clothed with trees ; so high and steep is this hill, that it is sunset on the river some hours before the sunshine fades away from the summit of the hill.

Like the Mukru, the Barak is well stocked with fish, and the fishing ground below the ford is remarkably good for a considerable distance. Leugha. A small stream runs at the foot of the hill near Nungba, a village which lies midway between Cachar and Manipur, and nearly the same between the two principal rivers, the Barak and Erung. This stream is not navigable by boats, but easily fordable at all times. Frung River. The main branch of the Erung rises under the high hills about four days' journey north-west of the Manipur valley ; flowing south-west, it receives numerous small unnamed rivers and the larger ones named the IrjCi rising under the western slop of the high range of hills to the west of the valley, and the Limatak which rises in the high ranges which lie south of the Gov ernment road and west of the hills facing the valley ; this river runs nearly due north, and receiving the Irju falls into the Erung, north of the road.

The Erung, before joining the Barak, receives many small unnamed streams flowing from the western slopes of the hill ranges through which it takes its course. The Erung and the other lesser rivers above noted are not navigable. The Erung is of much the same size and width as the Barak ; its bed is higher, being about 800 feet above the sea-level ; it is fordable like the Barak in the dry season. The banks of the river are more open than the Barak, as the surrounding hills, though lofty, are more sloping. Mahseer fish of enormous size are to be seen in the deep pools close to the swing bridge. Limatak River. This river is of no great breadth,— from 20 to 35 yards,— but with a strong current; it is crossed either by fording or by a swing bridge, according to the state of the river. The only river of any importance in the Hirok range of hills lying between Manipur and Burma is the Lokchao ; this hill stream drains into the Kubbo valley, and is of inconsiderable size, and quite unnavi gable. here are no other important rivers in the territory.

AU the rivers are fordable at any time during the year, and at such a distance from the sea are not afrected by bore or tide. Logtak Lake — See Gazetteer. GE00RAPHY. Sheets of Water. Other lake-like sheets of water exist in various parts of the valley, chiefly towards its northern extremity : in no case, the Longtak excepted, does any large stream drain into them. There are no towns on the banks of the rivers. The only traffic on the rivers is carried on by small canoes loaded with paddy and building materials, such as grass, timber, and bamboos. No other stream, except the Nambol, is used as a motive power for turning mills, and only in one instance by the Maharaja for griuding wheat at a place close to his residence. [Brown, 1873.] The Manipur river referred to above traverses the Manipur valley throughout its extreme length in a direction nearly north and south for 75 miles, the lofty ranges of hills are entered and passed through in lat. 22s 35', where leaving the hills it enters the plain of the Kulay district ; other names for this river are, in various parts of its course, Nankathay Choung, Imphan Toorel, and Khongha river.

North of this river flows the Maglung through the valley of Kubbo from north to south, and meeting the Khumbat river from the opposite direction they unite and fall into the Ningthee near Ung goou about 56 miles north of the confluence of the Imphan Toorel with that river. During the rains both the Maglung and Khumbat rivers have a depth of water sufficient for very large boats, but their streams at the height of the floods flow with such extreme velocity that the navigation is attended with considerable risk. Boats do, however, pass into the Kubbo valley at this season of the year, and find sufficient water to admit of their proceeding to Sumjok on the north, and Khumbat on the southern limit of the Kubbo valley. The elevation of the Manipur valley above the Ningthee or Chindwen, into which the Imphan Toorel (referred to above) falls, cannot be less than 2,000 feet; and there must either be a rapid succession of falls to overcome this difference of level, or one or two of stupendous magnitude ; a well-founded apprehension of the tribes who occupy the ranges through which the river flows has prevented any examination of so remote a spot, but a fall is said to exist, over which the stream is precipitated with fearful velocity ; this spot is known to the Mani puris by the name of Chingdun hoot, or Mountain Penetrator.

The lowest line of level of the valley, as might have been anticipated from the nature of its east and western boundaries, and the course of its rivers, is found in the centre, and the extreme point of depression at the south-eastern corner near Shoogoonoo, nearly the whole of the central portion consists of a series of jhils and marshes, which retain water throughout the year, and furnish an inexhaustible supply of grass for the cattle and ponies of the country, which thrive upon it in a very remarkable degree. In consequence of the general prevalence of these marshes, almost all the villages south of Thobal stand either upon the edge of the slopes connecting the bases of the mountains with the valley, or on the banks of the Imphan Toorel, which here, as in every other country liable to periodical inundations, are generally higher than the country immediately behind them. [Pemberton, 1835.]

Fisheries. The principal fisheries in the territory are the Longtak, Ekop, and Wai than lakes. In tlie latter a bund is annually constructed to retain the water ata certain level ; at this bund a toll is levied by the Raja on all the fish caught ; he also gives the fishing in this lake to his cavalry soldiers in remuner ation for their services; these men all reside near tbe lake and apportion the work of fishing among themselves, keeping what fish they require for con sumption and selling the remainder at the toll, where purchasers are always to be found. Fish are more plentiful in the dry than in the rainy season, and the quality is inferior to that of Sylhet or Cachar. The supply is plentiful. River fish afford about 13 different kinds ; of these, the most important are the boali of Bengal (called in Manipur "surreng"), the bas machh, gua-ra, the rani machh, surreng kohibi, bagmach, gua-rel, the papiaguatel ; the remainder are small and unimportant.