continues in that direction till it reaches Lat. 27”; midway is its
greateft diftance from the Ganges, being not lefs than twelve
hundred miles, after - beginning its courfe within fifteen miles.
From Lat. 27°, it as fuddenly turns to the weft, bounded on the
eaft and fouth by a great chain of mountains; it now runs
Assam°M °F through the kingdom of AJJam. The capital, Gbergong, is in
Lat. 26° £0'. It has four gates, and the city is encompafled
R a jah ’s P a with a bound-hedge of bamboos. The Rajah's, palace is furgongAT
Gher‘ rounded by a caufey, planted on each fide with a clofe hedge
o f bamboos, which ferves inftead of a wall. On the outfide
there is a ditch which is always full of water. The Rajah's
feat is adorned with lattice-work and carving. W ithin and
without have been placed plates o f brafs, fo well poliihed, that
when the rays o f the fun ftrike upon them they fhine like
mirrors. It is an afcertained faCt, that 3000 carpenters and
12,000 laborers, were conftantly employed in this work during
two years before it was finifhed. When the Rajah fits in this
[jchamber, or travels, inftead of drums and trumpets they beat
the dbol and dand. The latter is a round and thick inftrument
made of copper, and is certainly the fame as the drum, which
it was cuftomary in the time of the antient kings to beat in
battle and marches.
■River mow T he river now afiumes the name of Burrampooter. It is certainly
navigable to that city for large boats, which place is at the
diftance of fix or feven hundred miles from the fea. The hiftory
of this kingdom has been lately given in the AJiatic Refearcbes,
ii. p. 171; itfpeaks much of its wealth, and o f the plenty and
excellency of its natural productions, and that it abounds in all
metals
CALLED Bur
RAMPOOTER.
metals but tin. Gold is produced in every pajrt of the country G old.
by waihing the fand of the rivers, and is one of the fources of
revenue; twelve thoufand, fome fay twenty thoufand people,
are employed in that work, each o f whom has from the Rajah
a certain wages. Its gum lac is excellent, and it is very productive
of filk.
A mong the fruits which this country produces, are mangoes, F r u i t s .
plantains, jacks, oranges, citrons, limes, pine apples, and pu-
nialeh, a fpecies of amleh, which has fuch an excellent flavor,
that every perfon who taftes it prefers it to the plumb. There
are alfo cocoa-nut trees, pepper vines, Areca trees, and the
Sadij in great plenty. The fugar-cane excels in.. foftnefs. and
fweetnefs, and is of three colors, red, black, and white. There
is ginger free from fibres, and betel vines. The ftrength of
vegetation and fertility o f the foil are fuch, that whatever feed
is fown or flips planted they always thrive. The environs of
Gbergong furniih fmall apricots, yams, and pomegranates; but
as thefe articles are wild, and not aififted by cultivation and
engraftment, they are very indifferent. The principal crop in
this country confifts in rice and maß. Ades is very fcarce, and
wheat and barley are never fown ; lignum aloes is alfo a production
o f this country. The filks are excellent, and refemble S i lk .
thofe of China; but they manufacture very few more than are
required for ufe. They, are fuccefsful in embroidering with
flowers, and in weaving velvet, and tautbund, which is a fpecies
of filk, of which they make tents and kenauts.
One of their great forefts is inhabited by abundance o f elephants,
fix or feven hundred may be taken in a year, but they
V ol. II. 3 A are
♦