i 
 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
 THE LATE 
 
 DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 
 
 AGENT TO THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, ON THE NORTH- 
 EAST FRONTIER OF BENGAL, 
 
 AND 
 
 COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE AND CIRCUIT IN ASSAM, 
 
 Calcutta : 
 
 PRINTED AT THE BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, CIRCULAR ROAD 
 AND SOLD BY T. OSTELL, BRITISH LIBRARY. 
 
 1832. 
 

 MORSE STEPHENS 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IN offering this little publication to the friends 
 and connexions of the late Mr. Scott, it is pro- 
 per to mention that I had not originally the most 
 distant intention of attempting any thing like 
 a Memoir of my lamented cousin and friend. 
 My only object, in the first instance, had been to 
 obtain all the information in my power relative 
 to the latter years, or rather months, of his life; 
 in the hope of thus softening the affliction of 
 some near relations of Mr. Scott in England, to 
 whom, I knew, the sad tidings of his death would 
 occasion the keenest pangs of sorrow and dis- 
 tress. My reasons for altering this intention 
 will presently appear. 
 
 With the above view, I addressed several Gen- 
 tlemen on the North East Frontier, who had been 
 
 512885 
 
IV 
 
 in habits of constant intercourse with Mr. Scott, 
 in the various departments, civil and military, of 
 the extensive territory committed to his charge ; 
 and my satisfaction may be imagined, on find- 
 ing my applications, in every instance, attend- 
 ed to with a promptitude and zeal, which strong- 
 ly evinced the deep interest taken by every 
 individual, in whatever regarded, or appeared 
 likely to prove consolatory toy the connexions 
 of their departed friend. 
 
 A variety of interesting notices of Mr. Scott 
 accordingly reached me from different quarters, 
 most of which, not then entertaining the most 
 distant idea of the present undertaking, I im- 
 mediately transmitted to England, without re- 
 taining copies of them. They might otherwise 
 have added considerably to its interest. In par- 
 ticular, I was under much obligation to Lieut. 
 Colonel T. C. Watson, of the Honorable Com- 
 pany's European Regiment, W. Rhodes, Esq. 
 Civil Surgeon at Churra Poonjee, and Lieut. E. 
 F. Day, of the Artillery Regiment, who were then 
 at the Sanatorium ; and to Lieuts. Henry Ru- 
 
therford and James Mathie, the Civil Assistants to 
 Mr. Scott in Lower Assam. The three former gen- 
 tlemen were present with Mr. Scott in his last 
 moments, and had already transmitted the most 
 interesting details of that melancholy period to 
 Mr. Swinton, (Chief Secretary to Government,) 
 who had always been much attached to Mr. Scott, 
 and, in a particular manner, honored him with 
 his friendship. These, Mr. Swinton obligingly sent 
 to me for transmission to England; and the 
 continued and active exertions of Lieuts. Mathie 
 and Rutherford, were further, the means of hap- 
 pily arranging some private affairsof Mr. Scott's, 
 that intensely interested him in the hour of ap- 
 proaching dissolution. It is with the most grate- 
 ful feelings that I entreat all those gentlemen, 
 in behalf of Mr. Scott's connexions in England, 
 and in my own, to accept of the only return in 
 my power to make them my warmest acknow- 
 ledgments for their individual kindness. 
 
 I had subsequently occasion to write to Major 
 Adam White, commanding the Assam Light In- 
 fantry, and Political Agent to Government in 
 
vi 
 
 Upper Assam, the accomplished author of " Con- 
 siderations on the State of British India*? &c. 
 This gentleman, from his distant situation, did 
 not receive my communication until the begin- 
 ning of October ; and although then engaged in 
 a variety of important and complicated affairs, 
 having just assumed his official duties in that 
 district, his reply, so early as the 16th of the 
 same month, so far surpassed my. remotest anti- 
 cipation, that after full consideration, it appear- 
 ed to me, I should not only be doing an injury 
 to that highly gifted officer and to the memory 
 of Mr. Scott, but to several other most merito- 
 rious, as well as lamented, individuals, if I 
 declined giving a more extended circulation 
 than my views had originally contemplated, to 
 a Memoir so highly honorable to all whose names 
 it has so ably recorded. Such have been my 
 motives, and^I trust, they will be justly appre- 
 ciated. 
 
 Among the various documents that were sent 
 to me will be found an excellent letter from 
 
 * Published in August, 1812. 
 
Vll 
 
 Lieutenant Hamilton Vetch, of the Assam Light 
 Infantry, giving an account of some interesting 
 operations of Jungle warfare, in which he and 
 Mr. Scott were personally engaged, with other 
 correspondence of the same young officer ; and 
 many letters from Mr. Scott to George Lamb, 
 Esq. Civil Surgeon at Dacca, a particular 
 friend of Mr. Scott's, with whom he was in habits 
 of intimate and confidential intercourse. This 
 gentleman favoured me with a large packet of Mr. 
 Scott's letters to his address ; from which I have 
 selected such only as appeared connected with, 
 or were likely to add interest to, the Memoir. 
 LTnfortunately, the several dates of these only 
 give the day and month, without noting the year 
 in which they were written ; so that I have 
 found it difficult, indeed impracticable, to ar- 
 range them in a manner altogether satisfactory. 
 But the whole will, nevertheless, with the other 
 papers above-mentioned, be found deeply inter- 
 esting to Mr. Scott's friends ; some of whom 
 will probably drop a tear to the regretted names 
 of Bedingfield and Burl ton, Leslie and Beadon, 
 Wilcox and the amiable young Brodie, who fell 
 
Vlll 
 
 a too early sacrifice to the characteristic ardour 
 of a youthful hero, devoted to all the romance 
 and " circumstance" of a soldier's life : and, 
 though motives of consolation will suggest them- 
 selves, even on occasions thus painful, yet, when 
 we behold a youth so full of promise, who had 
 already gained the love and admiration of all 
 who knew him, thus unexpectedly 
 
 " Cut off from Nature's, and from Glory's course 
 u Which never mortal was more fond to run ;" 
 
 such views, alas ! however they may be approv- 
 ed by the understanding, can have little place 
 in our hearts. 
 
 I had intended to give some account of the 
 early life and education of Mr. Scott prior to 
 his embarkation for India, and subsequent to 
 his arrival, in the year 1801, up to the period 
 when Major White's Memoir commences; and 
 I had even completed details of some length 
 on these subjects :but on considering, that, after 
 all, there could be little or nothing new to Mr. 
 Scotf s friends and connexions in any thing I 
 
ix 
 
 bad written ; or, to speak more candidly, a dis- 
 trust of my own ability to do justice to the life 
 and character of my departed friend, finally in- 
 duced me to withhold this part of the intended 
 publication. Some detached parts of it, however, 
 I have thrown into the form of notes, and ap- 
 pended to Major White's Memoir. 
 
 I shall only observe, therefore, that Mr. SCOTT 
 was the second son of ARCHIBALD SCOTT, Esq. 
 of USAN and DUNNINALD (the family seats), near 
 MONTROSE, and born August, 1786. 
 
 ,The first appointments he held, I believe, after 
 his arrival in India, were those of Assistant to 
 the Collector, and, soon after, Register to the 
 Judge and Magistrate, of Goruckpore. At this 
 place I visited him in 1808, as more particularly 
 mentioned in the notes just alluded to. 
 
 In 1812-13, he was appointed Officiating Judge 
 jand Magistrate of Purneah, Behar ; and, at the 
 close of the same year, Judge and Magistrate 
 of Rungpore, in the same province. There was, 
 
however, a degree of monotony in this situation* 
 that did not please him ; and in September, 1816, 
 he effected an exchange of appointments with 
 Mr. Norman Macleod, Commissioner of Cooch 
 Behar, and Joint Magistrate of Rungpore ; and, 
 finally, in 1823, he was nominated Civil Commis- 
 sioner of Revenue and Circuit in the Rungpore, 
 and several other districts, and Agent to the 
 Governor General on the North East Frontier of 
 Bengal. These important appointments, for the 
 last of which Mr. Scott was specially selected 
 by Government, on account of his high, general 
 character, his pre-eminent and varied talents, 
 and his urbane and conciliatory conduct to the 
 Natives, he held till his death, in 1831. 
 
 The distinguished place Mr. Scott occupied 
 in the opinion of several successive Governments 
 would be understood from the private docu- 
 menst alone in my possession, if I felt myself at 
 liberty to publish them : and, yet more, had it 
 been in my power to obtain the gratifying pub- 
 lic testimonials by which he had, from time to 
 time, been honored by the local authorities and 
 
xi 
 
 the Honorable Court of Directors. But whoever 
 has read the voluminous papers printed by or- 
 der of the House of Commons relative to the 
 Burmese war ; with those that were laid before 
 both Houses of Parliament, by command of His 
 late Majesty, on the same subject, will be able 
 in some degree to appreciate the estimation in 
 which Mr. Scott was held by the Supreme Go- 
 vernment of India, during that eventful period. 
 From these papers I have selected a letter or two 
 of Mr. Scott's, with the paragraph of a despatch 
 from the Governor General in Council to the 
 Court of Directors, on the topics to which they 
 refer, of a nature highly honorable to his cha- 
 racter and talents. These will be found imme- 
 diately following Major White's Memoir. 
 
 Of the sentiments of the present Government, 
 relative to the public character and services of 
 Mr. Scott, a nobler testimony could not, perhaps, 
 have been given than in the monument erected 
 at the public expence, to his memory, at Churra 
 Poonjee; an honour, of which, I believe, there 
 
xir 
 
 is no other precedent than in the tomb of Mr. 
 Cleveland at Bhaugulpore*. 
 
 A drawing of this handsome structure has been 
 most obligingly sent to me by my friend Colonel 
 Tick ell, C. B. of the Engineers, from an original 
 design of his own, which had been approved of 
 by Government. The tomb is erected on a 
 favorite hill in the neighbourhood, more particu- 
 larly alluded to in the correspondence. 
 
 There the remains of David Scott now sleep, 
 amid those of the friends whom, in life, he so 
 sincerely loved and lamented. 
 
 ARCHIBALD WATSON, Col 
 
 Light Cavalry. 
 
 Letter from Major Adam White, (Commanding the 
 Assam Light Infantry, and Political Agent to Go- 
 vernment in Upper Assam,) to Colonel Arch. 
 Watson. 
 
 Jorehat, 16th October, 1831. 
 
 My Dear Sir, 
 
 You will be surprised at not hearing from me 
 sooner, in reply to your letter of the 9th September ; but, 
 when you hear that the Dawk takes 20 days to reach 
 
 30 
 * See the Note to No. 4Qj>f the Appendix. 
 
Xlll 
 
 this place, and that I only arrived here on the 1st Octo- 
 ber, to take charge of my new appointment, which of 
 course gave me a good deal to do, 1 hope you will acquit 
 me of any inattention to poor Mr. Scott's memory. I have 
 drawn out an account of him, and if you have any inten- 
 tion of publishing a Memoir of Mr. Scott, you can 
 expunge, alter, correct or incorporate any part of mine, 
 as you think best. In the first part of it, I have, perhaps, 
 indulged too much in comment upon Mr. Scott's mea- 
 sures, which can easily be omitted, if you judge proper. I 
 am sorry that my account of him is so imperfect, but it 
 is owing to my having been much less with Mr. Scott 
 than you suppose. I saw him last in June, but I had not 
 seen him for 13 months prior to that period. He then 
 appeared very ill, and, I am certain, entertained no doubt 
 in his own mind that his end was approaching ; and in- 
 deed I have a letter before me, dated 2nd June, to Lieut. 
 Vetch, in which he tells him plainly that he must not 
 be surprised to hear of his death. I apprehended the 
 worst myself, but endeavoured to cheer his mind as much 
 as I could. I offered to accompany him to the hills, but 
 he would not allow me, and in truth, he knew the public 
 service would not admit of it. 
 
 If Mr. Scott has kept any notes of his life, I am sure 
 a most interesting volume might be written respecting 
 him ; but I saw nothing among his papers at Gowhattie. 
 
 Your's very truly, 
 
 A. WHITE. 
 
XIV 
 
 f Extract) from Major Adam WJiite to Colonel Archi- 
 bald Watson, dated 20fA October, 1831. 
 
 Of Mr. Scott's early life and conduct, as Governor 
 General's Agent, during the Burmese war, I cannot pre- 
 tend to give an account, as at that period I was not an 
 assistant on the North East Frontier. I regret that it has 
 not been in my power to give more minute details in re- 
 gard to him. The cause of this is owing to my having 
 been generally separate from him in charge of a district. 
 It was only during his visits as a Circuit Judge that I 
 enjoyed much of his society. If the information I have 
 communicated is likely to interest his private friends and 
 relations, it will be a source of great gratification to me, 
 independent of the satisfaction I feel in paying a sincere 
 tribute to the merits and virtues of our lamented friend, 
 to whom, personally, I am under great obligations. 
 Should you determine upon writing a Memoir of Mr. 
 Scott, you can alter, or correct, what I have sent, at your 
 pleasure. 1 am strongly persuaded that Mr. Scott must 
 have taken notes of his own life, although I never have 
 heard him say that he did, nor have I seen any book of 
 the kind ; but I know several of his friends are of opinion 
 he did*. 
 
 A. WHITE. 
 
 * Unhappily no such documents were found amongst Mr. 
 Scott's papers ; otherwise, if we may judge from the few materials 
 we have been able to collect, it may be imagined what an instructive, 
 valuable, and interesting volume might have been written. JEo. 
 
A MEMOIR 
 
 OP 
 
 THE LATE DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 
 
 BY 
 
 MAJOR WHITE. 
 
 AT the period when I first saw him (in 1826), 
 Mr. Scott was actively employed in settling the 
 provinces of Upper and Lower Assam, which 
 had passed into our possession by the right of 
 conquest, during the Burmah War. This settle- 
 ment involved a tract of country about 400 miles 
 in length, reaching from Gowalparah to Sud- 
 dyah, and containing a population o 8 or 
 900,000 souls. The arduous nature of this task 
 may easily be inferred, when it is taken into 
 consideration that Assam, having been con- 
 quered, in the llth century, by a war-like race 
 of mountaineers from the regions between the 
 confines of the Burmese empire and China, an 
 entire new system of government had been 
 introduced, varying much from the Hindoo 
 institutions which, in that age, prevailed in 
 Assam, and standing at a much wider distance 
 from the combined system of Native and British 
 law now administered in the Provinces. 
 
16 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 To exercise power beneficially it was, there- 
 fore, required that a master mind should appear, 
 which, throwing aside all the technicalities of 
 the Regulations, should grasp, at once, the 
 spirit of thws^new system, that it might mould it 
 to its purposes, and engraft upon it those 
 improvements which a more enlightened system 
 of rule demanded ; at the same time, combining 
 this with a proper attention to the peculiar 
 customs and prejudices of the Assamese. 
 
 To enable the reader to form a proper judg- 
 ment of Mr. Scott's labours, I shall endeavour 
 to sketch the system of Government introduced 
 by him into Lower Assam, with which 1 am more 
 familiarly acquainted. 
 
 As the basis of all good Government, to 
 establish a free communication between the go- 
 vernors and the governed, Mr. Scott admitted, 
 as much as was possible, of the most complete 
 access to his person : his kutchery was at all 
 times crowded ; indeed, to a degree, which would 
 have rendered it impossible for persons of an 
 ordinary strength of constitution to have trans- 
 acted business at all. The most unlimited 
 freedom of petitioning was allowed, without 
 expence to the complainants. A large box was 
 placed in the kutchery, into which the petitions 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 17 
 
 could be thrown. To ensure despatch of busi- 
 ness, they were limited to 25 or 30 lines ; but 
 no stamp tax, or other restriction, existed. All 
 proceedings in court, and all petitions, were 
 written in the Bengalee or Assamese languages. 
 
 Unquestionably this facility of petitioning 
 was, at times, much abused a man would 
 complain about a dispute which his dead father 
 had had, about a horse, or a cow, some 40 
 years ago. Accusations of the most serious na- 
 ture, against individuals, were given in> altoge- 
 ther unfounded ; and disappointed suitors often 
 gave vent to their malice, in most offensive ano- 
 nymous remarks, upon the amlah and Euro- 
 pean authorities : but good was mingled with 
 the evil various murders, and other offences, 
 were brought to light; the rogueries of the am- 
 lah were often exposed ; a free vent was afford- 
 ed to the spirit of grumbling, inherent in our 
 nature; and, above all, the most complete check 
 was imposed upon his European subordinates; 
 as the slightest complaint against them was 
 listened to, and referred to these functionaries 
 for an answer. The Assamese had the most 
 unbounded confidence in Mr. Scott, and exer- 
 cised this freedom without reservation; but, 
 perhaps, it would have been better if it had been 
 
 B 2 
 
18 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 somewhat narrowed, as it was scarcely possible 
 that the most talented European could attend 
 to the numerous complaints brought forward 
 against his subordinate officers. A small tax 
 of 2 annas upon each petition would have check- 
 ed the tendency to making frivolous complaints, 
 without excluding the poor man from the tern- 
 pie of justice. The tax imposed in the pro- 
 vinces of 8 annas on each petition, would have 
 been found too heavy in Assam, and its imposi- 
 tion would have debarred many a poor man 
 from approaching the courts. 
 
 In the judicial system, very important reforms 
 were introduced : the barbarous punishments of 
 the ancient government, the cuttingof noses, ears, 
 extracting eyes, and other horrible mutilations, 
 were at once put down. The police, with some 
 exceptions, was thrown into the hands of the 
 native Collectors of Revenue : men elected by 
 the ryuts; and, thereby, unlikely to render 
 themselves unpopular by abusing its functions. 
 
 With a view to the ultimate suppression of 
 bribery, an object so difficult of attainment in 
 India, the police functionaries were, in particu- 
 lar cases, encouraged to take bribes, provided 
 they reported their doing so to the magistrate. 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 19 
 
 If the party offering the bribe, or receiving a 
 bribe, without reporting, was convicted, the in- 
 former received the whole, or part, according 
 to circumstances. If this did not, in every in- 
 stance, effectually extirpate the practice, parti- 
 cularly in cases where the sum proffered was of 
 large amount, it unquestionably tended to ren- 
 der all parties exceedingly cautious either in 
 giving or receiving bribes. 
 
 To check corruption in the superior amlah 
 about him, Mr. Scott exercised a rigorous sys- 
 tem of espionnage. In the Judicial and Re- 
 venue departments, he had several unknown 
 individuals entirely devoted to him, who report- 
 ed the peccadilloes of their brethren. These 
 men had literally sold themselves to him ; guilty 
 of delinquencies themselves, Mr. Scott, watch- 
 ing his opportunity, had pounced upon them 
 when the proof was complete, and in this predi- 
 cament, they were glad to compound for the 
 penalty by the promise of giving information ; 
 to ensure its performance, the original accusation 
 was held over them in terrorem. Undoubtedly 
 these informers played false at times, where 
 large sums were at stake ; but it was necessary 
 to do something, and, occasionally, valuable 
 information was given, which operated as a gen- 
 eral check. 
 
20 A MEMOIR OP THE LATE 
 
 In trying cases of murder, Mr. Scott, or bis 
 assistant, was aided by a jury, or, rather, a body 
 of assessors, who gave in a verdict of guilt, or 
 innocence, but had nothing to say to the sen- 
 tence. These assessors were, generally speak- 
 ing, (Assamese) public officers of the Civil 
 Courts ; but respectable Natives, unconnected 
 with the Government, were encouraged to apply 
 for permission to sit on these trials as members 
 of the punchyut court ; and it was only their 
 apathy, ignorance of the functions of jurymen, 
 and disinclination to give up their time for that 
 purpose, which compelled Mr. Scott to rely, 
 principally, upon the services of paid assessors. 
 In determining the value of native testimony, 
 their opinion was certainly of utility ; but, in 
 cases where the higher ranks of Natives, or men 
 of caste, were involved, it was difficult to get 
 an impartial verdict from them. 
 
 Mr. Scott entertained a high opinion of the 
 intellectual capacity of the Natives. About a 
 year before his death, he recommended, that a 
 Native should be appointed as assistant to the Eu- 
 ropean officer in civil charge of Lower Assam, 
 with the full powers of a European moofussil 
 magistrate, in criminal cases, viz. of passing 
 a sentence of two years imprisonment. Since his 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 21 
 
 demise, this appointment has taken place. Up- 
 on the same principle he entrusted the decision 
 of civil suits to them almost entirely. Three 
 Civil Courts were formed at Goahattie, composed 
 entirely of natives, and it was only in cases of 
 large amount that a special appeal existed to 
 himself. Fully aware of the evil of concentrat- 
 ing all authority in the European functionary in 
 charge of a district, he erected subordinate 
 punchyut courts, in each populous pergunnah, 
 to whom all petty civil suits were' referred, with 
 a right of appeal to the higher courts at Goahat- 
 tie, whilst the minor breaches of peace were 
 referred to the choudhries, or native collectors 
 of districts. In this way, Mr. Scott was enabled 
 to dispose of the vast number of references that 
 were daily made to him; but, personally, his 
 labours, as a Circuit Judge and Revenue Com- 
 missioner, were extremely heavy. 
 
 In the Revenue Department very important 
 changes were effected. Under the ancient 
 Government, the revenue was principally raised 
 by a capitation and hearth tax ; and by the 
 ryuts giving a certain portion of their labour 
 for the benefit of the state. Thus four individuals 
 received a certain portion of land, on condition, 
 that the labour of one of the four should be ap- 
 
22 A MEMOIR OP THE IATE 
 
 propriated, throughout the year, to the service 
 of the state; in this, approximating to the French 
 system of Corvees prior to the Revolution. At 
 the same time, the amount of taxation was altoge- 
 ther indefinite : independent of the Government 
 demand, various public functionaries were entitled 
 to a share of the produce of the soil, and their 
 rapacious demands were only limited by the utter 
 inability of the ryuts to pay. Mr. Scott rectifi- 
 ed this, by fixing the demand of the state, with 
 some exceptions, upon the land, which was 
 ascertained by measurements. One uniform 
 rate of taxation was fixed for arable land, and all 
 irregular exactions were abolished but circum- 
 stances, and the want of leisure, prevented his 
 maturing the settlement of the extensive districts 
 of Durung and Nyagong. Throughout the 26 
 pergunnahs in Lower Assam, the ryuts were al- 
 lowed to elect their own choudhries, or native col- 
 lectors, by whom the revenue was collected and 
 paid in to Government. W hen the day of election 
 occurred, they gave in tickets, specifying the 
 name of the candidate for whom they voted, and 
 the majority of votes determined the election. 
 
 In an abstract point of view nothing appears 
 simpler and better calculated to produce good 
 government than this arrangement. Yet, in 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 23 
 
 practice, it did not operate so well as might be 
 expected; and is, apparently, an institution 
 too far advanced for the existing state of civi- 
 lization in Assam. The ryuts*, to secure a tem- 
 porary relief to themselves, often elected good 
 easy souls, who never troubled them for their 
 rent, and thereby the district fell into arrears. 
 At times they were misled by factious dema- 
 gogues, who induced them to elect very improper 
 persons ; and, occasionally, some powerful man 
 in a district, emulating the example of his com- 
 peers in the Emerald Isle, pinned up some 2 or 
 300 of the Free-holders, until they agreed to vote 
 for him, and then marched them up in triumph to 
 the place of election. 
 
 Mr. Scott was animated by the noblest motives 
 in proposing this arrangement ; conceiving, that 
 to give the people a share in their own govern- 
 ment was the most direct mode of elevating 
 them in their own estimation ; and, independent 
 of this, he was sanguine in supposing that thereby 
 all improper influence on the part of the amlah, 
 in recommending individuals for appointment, 
 would be effectually checked. Owing to the low 
 state of civilization, and the impossibility of 
 affording European superintendence in every 
 * The villagers or peasantry. ED. 
 c 
 
24 A MEMOIR OP THE LATE 
 
 election, these good effects have not resulted as 
 yet but, with reference to the future, an insti- 
 tution of the kind may confer important benefits 
 on the community. 
 
 Mr. Scott took an intense interest in every 
 measure connected with the general welfare of 
 the country and population*, and exerted hhn- 
 
 * Mr. Scott was one of those who became attached to the 
 Natives of this country rather than disgusted by a prolonged 
 intercourse with them. It was an occasional subject of com- 
 plaint with him, in conversation, during the visit I paid him 
 in 1808, before alluded to, that Europeans, in general, should 
 evince so little regard for the feelings of Natives of rank or re- 
 spectability with whom they had occasion to associate, either 
 on business or in the ordinary intercourses of life ; which 
 accounted for that disinclination so evident on their part to all 
 connection with them beyond what necessity dictated. Of 
 late years, however, I have observed, that this dislike has been 
 gradually lessening, and that the higher classes of Natives have 
 begun to shew a very general disposition to court and concili- 
 ate the acquaintance of their European brethren. 
 
 With regard to the lower ranks of the people, Mr. Scott 
 would seldom admit the moral superiority of Europeans on 
 any point ; and sometimes instanced the honesty of our na- 
 tive servants, in all matters intrusted to their charge, which 
 had become in a manner proverbial. At the present day, 
 perhaps, so much cannot be said in their favor. But, in 
 speaking of the alleged depravity of the Natives in the towns 
 and cities of the interior, I am afraid, if we look into the 
 " Police reports and crimes of the metropolis" of England, 
 and consult COLQUHOUN and others on the same subject, we 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 25 
 
 self strenuously in forwarding such improve- 
 ments as circumstances admitted of his intro- 
 ducing. Being of opinion, that Assam offered 
 
 shall see little cause for self-congratulation. It cannot indeed 
 be disputed that bribery and corruption, in their worst and 
 most oppressive forms, reign universally among the native 
 functionaries under our dominion ; but much of this may be attri- 
 buted to the inefficiency of our own regulations and police over a 
 comparatively immense territority, where it is quite impossi- 
 ble the European magistrates, and other public officers of 
 Government, can survey, with their own eyes, as in England, 
 all parts of the system under their control. It is indeed to be 
 feared, that a century or more must elapse, and the sons of 
 Shem and Japheth become mingled together and assimilated as 
 one individual people, by means of gradual colonization, before 
 we can hope for any material changes in this respect. By that 
 time education and English literature will have extended 
 the march of general knowledge over India ; and the Natives, 
 . thoroughly instructed in their own rights, will as sturdily op- 
 pose the frauds and oppressions of their countrymen in office, 
 as would be done, at the present day, in England. 
 
 Mr. Scott's paternal treatment of his native servants, I re- 
 member, was such, that they were devotedly attached to him, 
 and strove rather, to prevent or anticipate his wishes, than 
 coldly, or unwillingly, to execute them ; and I am convinced, 
 that, to a man, they would, at any time, have hazarded their 
 lives in his service, had occasion called for such a proof of 
 their attachment. 
 
 Indeed I have every reason to believe, that the innate be- 
 nevolence of his character, which evinced itself in numberless 
 acts of retired and unostentatious, but enlarged, philanthropy, 
 was the means of considerably injuring his fortune. ED. 
 
 c 2 
 
26 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 every facility for the production of silk, he in- 
 troduced the mulberry plant, with a view to its 
 further increase ; and brought workmen from 
 Rungpore, who taught the Natives an improved 
 mode of preparing and spinning the Moongah 
 silk, a staple commodity of the country. He 
 laboured to improve the breed of cattle, and 
 distributed the potatoe and other useful vege- 
 tables amongst the Natives. The prisoners in 
 jail were taught various useful occupations an 
 agricultural farm was established ; and, to pro- 
 vide for the intellectual wants of the rising gene- 
 ration^ provision was obtained from Government 
 for establishing 12 or 15 schools in Lower Assam. 
 
 Mr. Scott exerted himself to promote the 
 labours of the Missionaries in the districts sub- 
 ject to his control; and, on his application to 
 Government, a Baptist Missionary, Mr. Rae, 
 was allowed to preceed to Assam. Mr. Scott was 
 in the habit of distributing the New Testament 
 in the Assamese language amongst the Na- 
 tives ; and always maintained the opinion, that 
 people in a rude state of civilization, like the 
 G arrow and Cassyah mountaineers, whose ideas 
 of a future state, and the Supreme Being, were 
 vague and indistinct, were much more likely to 
 be converted than races further advanced, like 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 27 
 
 the Hindoos and Mohamedans of the provinces; 
 in whose hearts more elevated notions of religion 
 were enshrined from childhood, by the endear- 
 ing cares of their parents, sanctified by the pom- 
 pous ritual and observances of their respective 
 faiths, and, in mature manhood, rivetted in the 
 understanding by the intellectual labours of their 
 hierarchies, the members of which were interest- 
 ed in supplying them with reasons for the faith 
 that was in them. But he was of opinion, that 
 the labours of the Missionaries should be com- 
 bined with instruction in agriculture, and the 
 mechanical arts, with the view of raising these 
 rude people in the scale of society ; and that, 
 thereby, a lively feeling of gratitude might be 
 generated in their bosoms, which would dispose 
 them the more readily to listen to the doctrine 
 of their spiritual adviser. 
 
 Being anxious (for revenue purposes) to ascer- 
 tain, as speedily as possible, the exact resources 
 of the country, Mr.Scott proposed to Government, 
 and obtained a survey upon, I believe, quite a 
 new principle in Bengal. The work was almost 
 entirely performed by native surveyors, Bengalees 
 or Assamese. The European surveyor, or his 
 assistant marked out the given tract, and sur- 
 veyed the boundary. The interior portion of 
 
28 A MEMOIR OP THE LATE 
 
 the area was entirely filled up by the native 
 surveyors, and protracted by the European sur- 
 veyor, or his assistant. So many native surveyors 
 being employed upon very small salaries, if 
 their work was performed in an efficient manner, 
 it is clear, that a survey would be accomplished 
 at much less expence, and with more despatch, 
 than under the present mode. But the nature 
 of the country and its unhealthiness opposed 
 serious obstacles ; most of the surveyors were 
 Bengalees, who suffered severely from sickness; 
 and, thereby, the work has been somewhat retard- 
 ed. The work was very ably superintended 
 by the late Lieut. Bedingfeld, of the Artillery ; and 
 the conduct of it under Mr. Mathews, the present 
 surveyor, afforded Mr. Scott every satisfaction. 
 Mr. Scott himself had considerable experience as 
 a practical surveyor, and was capable of throwing 
 out very useful suggestions for the management 
 of the survey. 
 
 Mr. Scott took much interest in the progress of 
 geographical discovery on the N. E Frontier; 
 and, on his application to Government, I believe, 
 those arduous expeditions were undertaken, in 
 which Lieuts. Wilcox and Burlton were employ- 
 ed. It was matter of much regret to him, that cir- 
 cumstances deprived him of the services of these 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 29 
 
 valuable Officers in this honourable but danger- 
 ous career. From political causes, the Govern- 
 ment of Upper Assam was much more assimilat- 
 ed to that of a native state than Lower Assam. 
 In its administration, the very kind and conciliat- 
 ing disposition of Colonel Cooper, the Commis- 
 sioner, tended much to reconcile the minds of the 
 Assamese nobles to the desagremens of a foreign 
 dominion; and subsequently, Mr. Scott derived 
 the most valuable assistance from the able and 
 energetic conduct of the late Political Agent, 
 Captain Neufville. 
 
 Of Mr. Scott's official career as Commissioner 
 of N. E. Rungpore, I can scarcely pretend to 
 speak, as my acquaintance with him originat- 
 ed at a later period ; but 1 have occasionally 
 heard him throw out remarks upon the manner 
 in which he proceeded with the Garrows. He 
 had been selected for this appointment by the 
 Government, in the confident expectation, that 
 the uniform kindness of his manner, and his high 
 sense of justice towards the Natives, might pro- 
 duce a beneficial result, in treating with them ; 
 and, in the hope, that, by his persuasion, they 
 might be induced to abstain from those cruel 
 excesses they had been wont to perpetrate in the 
 Company's territory. The Government were not 
 
30 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 disappointed in this nomination ; and Mr. Scott 
 received the thanks of the Court of Directors for 
 his conduct in Garrow affairs. 
 
 But kindness and conciliation were not the 
 only weapons he employed ; Mr. Scott told me 
 plainly, that, when any outrage was committed, 
 it was utterly impossible to obtain any satis- 
 faction for it, until the injury had been revenged 
 by an appeal to arms in a word, a Garrow never 
 would listen to reason, until he had been beaten : 
 then he kissed the rod, and acknowledged the 
 person who wielded it as his superior. For the 
 last seven or eight years the Garrows have uni- 
 formly talked of Mr. Scott as their father ; but 
 this endearing appellation was obtained by a 
 rough course of paternal discipline. Confident in 
 ihe vast military superiority which fire-arms and 
 discipline confer upon us, he never hesitated 
 proceeding into their country, with small par- 
 ties of 20 or 30 men, to demand satisfaction 
 for an injury, and was, almost, in every in- 
 stance successful : on one occasion only, he 
 was endangered. With a small guard of 10 or 
 12 men he found himself in a position where the 
 points of egress were guarded by 7 or 800 Gar- 
 rows ; thus beset, he was compelled to stockade 
 himself, and remained beleaguered for seven or 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 31 
 
 eight days, until relieved by a company of Se- 
 bundies. 
 
 Mr. Scott's knowledge of jungle warfare was 
 unquestionably of service to him afterwards, in 
 recommending what course of operations should 
 be pursued against the Burmese and Cassyas; 
 but his opinion, as to the amount of force re- 
 quired to bring an expedition to a successful 
 issue, in many instances, differed materially 
 from that of military officers who had had no ex- 
 perience of such warfare ; indeed, in these cir- 
 cumstances, it was natural enough to estimate 
 the prowess of the enemy at a higher rate than 
 experience warranted. During this period of 
 his life, the Goalparah Sebundy Corps was form- 
 ed under Mr. Scott's personal superintendence. 
 It was composed almost entirely of Garrows, 
 and the men were expected to move unincum- 
 bered with baggage or carriage of any de- 
 scription. To facilitate this, their head-dress 
 was convertible into a cooking pot. The shape 
 did not differ much from that of the ordinary 
 sepoy 's turbans. After the march, the blue 
 broad cloth, and the ornaments, were taken off, 
 and lo ! a goodly brass vessel made its appear- 
 ance, superseding the necessity of the soldier 
 carrying one in his knapsack. 
 
 D 
 
32 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 Of Mr. Scott's mode of intercourse with the 
 various rude tribes around him, I shall not say 
 much, as it would lead me into too many de- 
 tails ; but as our connection with the Cassya 
 states, on the Assam side, must excite some 
 interest, I shall endeavour to state its com- 
 mencement, having witnessed it personally. 
 
 Teeruth Singh, the Cassya Rajah of Nunkhlow, 
 wished to rent some lands in the plains of As- 
 sam, which his ancestors had been accustomed 
 to do from the Assamese Rajah. Mr. Scott re- 
 plied that he would be happy to oblige him in 
 that respect, provided he exerted himself to in- 
 duce his people to grant a free passage through 
 his territory to British subjects, proceeding to 
 Sylhet, or, vice versa, from Sylhet to Assam. 
 As the Cassyas claimed a free right to enter 
 our territory, Mr. Scott deemed it but equita- 
 ble that they should extend a similar indulgence 
 to our subjects. Teeruth Singh replied that 
 he would convene an assembly of his people, 
 when Mr. Scott's proposition would be submit- 
 ted to them ; at the same time, he invited Mr. 
 Scott to be present at the meeting. 
 
 On the 1st of November, 1826, we started for 
 the hills. There being no regular road at that 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 33 
 
 period, we experienced considerable difficulty in 
 making our way across the woody hills, which 
 lie between Goahattee and Nunkhlow, a distance 
 of 60 miles. I was much amused at Mr. Scott's 
 expedients to diminish these difficulties. Being 
 a stout man, weighing 13 or 15 stone, it was 
 difficult for him to climb these almost perpen- 
 dicular heights. To remedy this, he had prepared, 
 before hand, a pair of traces which went round 
 his body ; to these were attached two or more 
 brawny mountaineers, who marched on before, 
 and, pulling with all their strength, Mr. Scott 
 was thus enabled to ascend with, comparatively, 
 little exertion. At other times, he made a power- 
 ful Toorkie horse, remarkably quiet, go on be- 
 fore him, and, rolling the hair of the tail round 
 his hands, it tugged up the hill. Emerging from 
 the hot muggy atmosphere of the plains, and 
 the noisome effluvia of these Assamese wilds, it 
 is scarcely possible to conceive with what de- 
 light we beheld the enchanting verdure of these 
 hills, and breathed their pure and balmy atmos- 
 phere. 1 forget who it is that sings : 
 f- 
 
 " Ob, there is sweetness in the mountain air, 
 
 And life, which bloated ease can never hope to share.'* 
 
 But no one can experience the truth of this 
 sentiment more forcibly than the traveller from 
 
 D 2 
 
34 A MEMOIR OP THE LATE 
 
 the plains of India. Fortune had favoured us 
 on this occasion ; the atmosphere was unusually 
 clear, and we had scarcely proceeded 100 yards, 
 when, looking across the vale, the snowy ranges 
 of the Himmalayah burst upon us in all their 
 beauty ; whilst the plains of Assam lay at our 
 feet, enveloped in a dense haze, penetrated, here 
 and there, by bright gleams of sunshine, which 
 revealed to us the silvery Berhampooter wind- 
 ing gently to its reservoir. How different its 
 appearance, at these heights, from its mass of 
 waters, their roar, and rush, in the plains. 
 
 We arrived in the evening at Nunkhlow, 
 which we found an inconsiderable village, perch- 
 ed on the top of a hill. The aspect of the coun- 
 try reminded me, much, of the beautiful sheep hills 
 in the south of Scotland. The day after, the 
 Rajah summoned the whole of his people, and 
 those of the adjacent states ; and, four or five 
 days afterwards, the Meeting of the Parliament 
 took place. Utterly ignorant of the habits and 
 manners of these people, conceive my astonish- 
 ment when 5 or 600 warriors came bounding 
 along the hills, armed with two-handed swords, 
 bows, and quivers, and arrayed in the pictures- 
 que garb of the Cassyas, resembling the Roman 
 Toga. Their sudden appearance on the top of 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 35 
 
 these beautiful hills, gave wonderful effect to 
 the scenery around. A circle having been form- 
 ed, and the various members of the assembly 
 arranged according to their rank, the Rajah pro- 
 ceeded to explain the object of the meeting, and 
 requested the different orators to express their 
 sentiments on the proposition of the British 
 Government. The leading orator, on the part 
 of the opposition, immediately started forth, 
 and commenced a long harangue in condemna- 
 tion of the measure, expressed in a continuous 
 flow of language, accompanied with much ani- 
 mation of manner, and appropriate gesticulation. 
 This was replied to by an orator of the Rajah's 
 party; and, in this manner, the ball was kept up 
 until evening. 1 was struck with astonishment 
 at the order and decorum which characterised 
 these debates. No shouts of exultation, or in- 
 decent attempts to put down the orator of the 
 opposite party ; on the contrary, every speaker 
 was fairly heard out. 1 have often witnessed the 
 debates in St. Stephen's Chapel, but those of the 
 Cassya Parliament appeared to me to be conduct- 
 ed with more dignity of manner. The whole scene 
 brought vividly to my recollection, the eloquent 
 description of the North American Indians by 
 Robertson, Chateaubriand, and Cooper ; and, 
 for once, I found my boyish dreams realized. 
 
36 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 At this time, as far as I could understand, 
 the Government appeared to be lodged in a 
 widely extended Aristocracy; but, since then, 
 subsequent inquiries have shewn that it was 
 of a much more Republican cast ; the Ra- 
 jah, and the leading men, possessing very little 
 control over the people. As it grew dark, the 
 debate not being closed, Mr. Scott grew rather 
 impatient; and, as he had been wont to do with 
 the Garrows, ordered a dozen bottles of rum to 
 be sent up the hill in the hope of putting an end 
 to it. The liquor was returned, with a mes- 
 sage, saying, that, they would not drink spirits 
 until they had come to a determination upon the 
 point at issue. The next morning the debate 
 was resumed ; it was continued throughout the 
 day, and closed at midnight, in favour of the 
 proposition of the British Government. What 
 the literal arguments of the opposition orators 
 were, 1 cannot exactly say; but, looking down 
 upon the vale of Assam at their feet, and, see- 
 ing that the British Ensign had advanced to the 
 sacred fountains of Bramah Kound, it was na- 
 tural for them to cherish distrust of such a pow- 
 erful neighbour : but 1 rather think the instinc- 
 tive dislike of mountaineers to the inhabitants 
 of the plains, so general throughout the world, 
 had more influence on the deliberations. The 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 37 
 
 next day the resolution of the assembly was em- 
 bodied in a treaty, which was concluded with 
 the British Government ; the Cassyas agreeing 
 to aid in the construction of a road, which was 
 to pass through their territory. 
 
 Delighted with the climate, Mr. Scott imme- 
 diately commenced another negotiation for per- 
 mission to rent a piece of land upon which a house 
 was to be built, to " eat the Europe air" as it was 
 phrased. This, after considerable opposition, 
 was granted. After the negotiations were finish- 
 ed, a grand banquet was given by Mr. Scott, to 
 the principal leaders of the Cassyas ; a huge 
 caldron, which Mr. Scott had brought with 
 him (resembling that described by Sancho with 
 so much gusto at Comacho's wedding) was filled 
 with pig, fowl, flesh, and fish. When the feast 
 was ready, to banish distrust, we commenced 
 by tasting the principal dishes confidence 
 was immediately established, and copious liba- 
 tions were drunk in honour of this new alliance. 
 Before the assembly dispersed, contests of ar- 
 chery* took place between the men of the differ- 
 
 * Mr. Scott took considerable interest in these sports, being 
 skilled in archery himself. On a subsequent' Visit, I perfectly 
 recollect the late Dr. Beadon laid a considerable wager with 
 Mr. Scott, that a Cassya Interpreter, who shot very well, would 
 
38 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 ent villages, and the victors were carried home 
 in triumph, surrounded ,by the villagers, sing- 
 ing and dancing, as they wound their way over 
 the adjacent hills. 
 
 On this my first visit to Nunkhlow, the im- 
 pression on my mind was decidedly in favour of 
 the Cassyas, who appeared to me a simple, hon- 
 est, brave, and independent people. During his 
 short stay, at this time, Mr. Scott's mind was 
 ardently employed in schemes for the improve- 
 ment of the Cassyas' country. Fruit trees, of 
 various descriptions, were written for from Cal- 
 cutta ; cattle to improve the breed ; roads were 
 planned ; bridges were ordered to be construct- 
 ed ; and his zeal, in the behalf of this race, un- 
 fortunately laid the foundation of that com- 
 plaint, which brought him to a premature grave. 
 He had gone to select a proper place for throw- 
 beat him. For amusement, the bet was taken up by Mr. Scott, 
 although conscious that his antagonist would beat him. I was 
 appointed Umpire, and exhorted the Cassya, that the superior 
 rank of his opponent should not induce him to play booty. 
 But all my rhetoric was unavailing Mr. Scott, by a glance of 
 his eye, gave him his cue, unobserved by the Doctor ; the fel- 
 low managed most adroitly to save his credit, just allowing the 
 Agent of the Governor General to beat him, to the great annoy- 
 ance of his backer ; but the latter was agreeably undeceived, 
 about a week afterwards, when the secret was let out. 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 39 
 
 ing across abridge ; and, towards evening, found 
 that he had to ascend a mountain 2,000 feet high, 
 before getting home ; his usual assistants were 
 wanting, and over-exertion brought on a palpi- 
 tation of the heart, and difficulty of breathing, 
 which led him to augur the worst of his com- 
 plaint from the first. 
 
 About 18 months afterwards, I again visited 
 Nunkhlow, which exhibited much improvement ; 
 a road had been constructed from Assam ; 
 bridges had been built; various European fruit 
 trees had been planted ; and a breeding es- 
 tablishment set agoing. But no doubt some 
 of these improvements must have been irksome 
 to the Cassyas ; every thing promised a perma- 
 nent stay ; a bungalow had been constructed ; 
 prisoners were employed on the road, and a 
 guard brought up to take care of them, which 
 perhaps the Cassyas did not relish but, out- 
 wardly, the spirit of discord slumbered in their 
 bosoms. Mr. Scott was remarkable, at this peri- 
 od, for his respectful attention towards the Cas- 
 syas ; they were treated on a footing of equality ; 
 indeed, took greater liberties than are allowed 
 in that state ; penetrated at all times, without 
 ceremony, into your most private apartment, 
 and exacted exorbitant prices for every thing, 
 
40 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 which were readily paid. No restriction of their 
 liberties had taken place, nor had any pecuniary- 
 burthen been imposed upon them ; and an impar- 
 tial spectator would have inferred, that the Cas- 
 syas were sensible how much they had benefitted 
 from their connection with the British Govern- 
 ment, in improved roads, an increased demand 
 for their produce, the introduction of useful vege- 
 tables, vaccination, schools, &c.* 
 
 But innovations introduced by strangers, are 
 often distasteful, especially to a race of moun- 
 taineers ; and, notwithstanding all these visible 
 benefits, the spirit of hatred, at this time, must 
 have rankled in their bosoms. Shortly afterwards, 
 these smothered passions found vent, in the atro- 
 cious massacre of two unoffending British Officers, 
 Lieutenants Bedingfeld and Burlton, with 50 or 
 60 of our followers, at Nunkhlow. Mr. Scott, 
 at this time, was on his way from Nunkhlow to 
 Chirra Poonjee, and, by a deep refinement in 
 treachery, before starting, had been falsely warn- 
 ed by the Nunkhlow people, that he would be 
 
 * So ardent was his desire to benefit the Natives, that he 
 carried up with him 2 Bhooteyas for the purpose of teaching 
 the Gassy as the mode of agriculture practised by the Bhoo- 
 teyas and Chinese, in cultivating their mountains; but their 
 dislike of innovation, as usual, defeated the scheme. 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 41 
 
 attacked in passing through the Molacern country, 
 with the view that he should be deterred from go- 
 ing, and might, thereby, be involved in the gene- 
 ral massacre. Mr. Scott so far fell into the snare, 
 that, deceived by this show of kindness, he only 
 left one naik and four regular soldiers at Nunkh- 
 low*, but, disdaining the warning given, he deter- 
 mined to push on with a guard of 12 regular sol- 
 diers. The Cassyas, seeing their victim likely toes- 
 cape them, planned an ambush at Zumbree, where 
 he was to be invited to pass the night : on arriving 
 somewhat close to the village, a courteous invi- 
 tation was sent ; but, as the inhabitants had 
 been rather inimical to the British alliance, this 
 extraordinary politeness most fortunately roused 
 Mr. Scott's suspicions, and induced him to de- 
 cline it. Pushing on rapidly for Syung, whose 
 inhabitants had not joined in the combination, he 
 passed the night there, and thus most providen- 
 tially saved his life. 
 
 The exciting cause of this melancholy catas- 
 trophe must, I am afraid, be traced to the false 
 and foolish speech of a Bengalee chupprassee, 
 who, in a dispute with the Cassyas, prior to*Mr. 
 Scott's coming up, had threatened them with 
 his master's vengeance, and had plainly told 
 them that it entered into his master's plans to 
 
 * See Mr, Scott's letter to Dr. Lamb, No. 2|, Appendix. 
 
42 A MEMOIR OP THE LATE 
 
 subject them to taxation, the same as the inha- 
 bitants of the plains. With a proud confidence 
 in their own valour, characteristic of their bar- 
 barian state of civilization, these niountainers 
 imagined it would be an easy matter to preci- 
 pitate our effeminate soldiery from these heights 
 into the plains; and, at the shrill sound of their 
 mountain-whistle, banded together to the number 
 of 1,500 men : but the rapid advance of Captain 
 Lister soon dissolved the charm of their invin- 
 cibility, and the triumph of discipline, and steady 
 determined conduct, was soon apparent. The 
 contest was prolonged for about two months, and 
 various skirmishes took place, in most of which 
 Mr. Scott was present, and took an intense 
 personal interest. At one time, he was out on 
 horse-back with a few followers, and, perceiving 
 a body of Cassyas, manoeuvred ably, and kept 
 them in play, whilst he detached a messenger to 
 Captain Lister ; who, making a detour unseen, 
 came unexpectedly upon the Cassya leaders, in 
 grand debate whether they should push on 
 in that quarter, or not. A volley of musquetry 
 broke up the council, and the leaders retired 
 in great confusion the Rajah Teerut Sing 
 being wounded and a number left dead*. 
 
 * On hearing of the outrage at Nunkhlow, operations com- 
 menced immediately on the Assam side. At that period, there 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 43 
 
 The resistance made by the Cassyas did not 
 evince that heroic spirit which the martial 
 
 were not more than 50 or 60 men of the Assam Light Infantry 
 at Gowahatty, and aid could not be procured nearer than 
 Bishnath, about 120 miles distant. 
 
 The first report I received, merely mentioned, in a vague 
 manner, that Lieut. Bedingfeld had been killed, but stated 
 no particulars. On hearing it, I requested Lieut. Vetch, 
 commanding at Gowahatty, to march with his Detachment 
 that day, and accompanied it. We left Gowahatty on the 
 8th April, with 40 men, leaving only 14 or 15 men to protect 
 the place, and the treasury, containing a lakh and a half of 
 rupees. In ordinary circumstances, this might have been an 
 imprudent measure ; but as we rightly conjectured, that the 
 blow was not aimed at a solitary individual, but menaced our 
 national power in the hills, it was necessary to make an 
 emergent effort to aid our party at Nunkhlow, or, at the 
 least, to afford them succour, if retreating; and, personally, 
 we felt a natural desire to avenge the fall of our friend : 
 but circumstances conspired against us on this occasion, 
 and defeated our design. On the 3rd March, we entered 
 the Cassya country, and towards evening, surprised the out- 
 post of Jeeran, where a party, under the command of a cousin 
 of the Cassya Rajah, was posted to oppose us. Taken unex- 
 pectedly, this warrior rushed out sword in hand, with a few 
 followers, upon the leading section; but seeing himself unsup- 
 ported, made rapidly for the jungle amidst a shower of balls. 
 The village being situated on a rocky eminence, surrounded 
 by jungle, in which the enemy had taken refuge ; to secure 
 our position, it became necessary to set fire to the houses 
 skirting the jungle but, being filled with grain, it extended 
 to the whole village, and soon presented a scene strangely 
 
44 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 appearance of their warriors had led us to ex- 
 pect,, and which, they said, wrs displayed in 
 
 contrasted looking upwards, a lofty pillar of fire rose up 
 from the devoted village, and, beyond it, a dense column of 
 smoke towered up to the highest heaven, presenting an object 
 of great sublimity. Beneath, a strange Bacchanalian scene of 
 licence rose upon the view some of the soldiers and camp- 
 followers were shooting pigs and fowls others were roasting 
 them before the fire some were searching for plunder, and 
 running about in the gay dresses of the Cassyas a few were 
 eagerly searching for their arms to carry off as trophies, whilst 
 other joyous souls made free with their spirituous liquors - 
 they all made admirable cheer for the evening, and the free 
 spirit of a camp reigned throughout. The next morning I was 
 compelled to return to Gowahatty, having received two ex- 
 presses, stating that a party of the Cassyas had approach- 
 ed within seven or eight miles of that place ; that the 
 Assamese were supposed to be in league with them ; and 
 that most of the Bengalee merchants and amlahs had 
 taken to their boats. On arriving at Gowahatty, I found 
 affairs much exaggerated but the country being in a state 
 of great agitation, it was necessary to detain Lieut. Vetch's 
 detachment until reinforcements arrived. About a week 
 afterwards Captain Urquhart arrived, with two companies of 
 the 54th N. I., about 80 strong. At this period, from the 
 reports that came in, there was reason to believe, that Mr. 
 Scott had perished, along with most of the people connected 
 with the agency ; and thus, there being no pressing call to 
 aiford support to our party in the hills, it became expedient 
 to wait until intelligence was received from Sylhet, as to the 
 measures in contemplation for the chastisement of the Cassyas, 
 that ; in co-operation, a simultaneous movement might be made 
 
SCOTT, ESQ. 45 
 
 (lie encounters of their tribes with each other. 
 In these contests we were told, that the hostile 
 
 from the Assam side. About a week afterwards the joyful 
 intelligence of Mr. Scott's escape was received, and that the 
 Sylliet force was in motion. Captain Urquhart's detachment 
 immediately advanced, and, pushing on by the Bundrew 
 route, reached Nunkhlow, where we had the pleasure of 
 seeing Mr. Scott and some of the officers of the Sylhet 
 party. At this period, owing to the severe chastisement they 
 had received from Captain Lister's detachment, the spirit 
 of the Cassyas was much broken, and in the only affair in 
 which I was out against them they conducted themselves 
 in a very dastardly way. 
 
 There was great difficulty in providing supplies for the 
 troops at this time ; and, there being no immediate call for 
 their services, Capt. Urquhart's detachment was directed to 
 return to Assam, making a detour by Ramree : at the 
 same time, I was ordered, with a small party, to open 
 a communication with Gowahatty, by the direct route 
 vi Jeeran, which had been stockaded and blocked up by 
 the Cassyas. We encountered little resistance from the 
 enemy, who invariably retreated on being fired upon ; but 
 the natural and artificial obstacles opposed to our progress 
 were such, that had the Cassyas evinced a proper spirit, the 
 detachment must inevitably have been lost. The country 
 between Nunkhlow and Assam is extremely difficult of access, 
 being a succession of steep acclivities and declivities, covered 
 with the densest jungle, and affording positions capable of 
 being defended by a few determined men against an army. 
 On the present occasion, the roads were planted with sharp 
 bamboo stakes, called Panjhies, and the most difficult passes 
 were obstructed with trees, and stockaded most fortunately 
 
46 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 bands, like Ossian's heroes, rushed from their 
 opposite hills against each other "like the dark 
 " storms of autumn, and dire was the result when 
 * their conflicting shields dashed against each 
 " other in the vale below." Here no such dis- 
 play of manhood took place, but the advantage 
 we possessed in the use of fire-arms will easily 
 account for this their natural courage sunk 
 under this superiority, and they candidly con- 
 fessed, that they could not fight, whilst such an 
 unusual noise stunned their ears. 
 
 In the arrangements he made for the main- 
 tenance of our positions, Mr. Scott displayed 
 great practical sagacity. At this time, much 
 sickness prevailed among the troops, arising 
 from the miasma of the noxious jungles they 
 had passed through in coming up from Assam, 
 and the difficulty of procuring supplies in the 
 
 Mr. Scott had carried up a body of prisoners from the jail 
 to act as pioneers, and, by their aid, he was enabled to extri- 
 cate the detachment from the dilemma in which it was placed. 
 The detachment under Capt. Urquhart and Lieut. Dawes 
 effected its detour without any loss from the enemy, but 
 the sickness which prevailed in his detachment on its return, 
 affords a striking exemplification of the noxious climate of these 
 jungles in the hot season. Of 80 sepoys there were not 
 more than two or three who did not go into hospital, and the 
 two European Officers suffered most severely from sickness. 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 47 
 
 hills. Indeed, to such an extent, that it was 
 scarcely supposed we could maintain our posts 
 on the Assam side. But a man of talent is never 
 without resources Mr. Scott fortunately recol- 
 lected, that there were some hundred Burmese, 
 or rather Shy an s (the original invaders of Assam), 
 who had been taken prisoners during the war, 
 but were afraid to return to their own country, 
 lest their heads should be cut off: men of a 
 hardy frame of body, accustomed to bear priva- 
 tion, who required no carriage, cattle, or coolies, 
 for carrying provisions, and to whom the air of 
 the jungles was native. Aware of all this, he 
 lost no time in calling such useful qualities into 
 play; and, having enrolled about 100 of them as 
 soldiers, to this circumstance is to be ascribed 
 our having been able to keep up our communi- 
 cation, in such an unhealthy tract of country as 
 the jungles which intervene between Assam 
 and the Cassya hills. 
 
 The same readiness of resource was evinced 
 in the cold weather of 1830-31. At this time, the 
 Cassyas had made very successful incursions 
 into the Company 's territory, in the plains of 
 Assam, and, with the exceptions of a jemadar 
 and 16 men, every Sebundy soldier had been 
 despatched to the frontier : on a sudden the inha- 
 
48 A MEMOIR OP THE LATE 
 
 bitants of Gowalparah, one day, rushed into 
 court, with a report, that the Cassyas and Gar- 
 rows were within two or three miles distance. 
 Most opportunely it occurred to Mr. Scott, that a 
 considerable party of the Rajah of Bijnie's dis- 
 banded soldiers had come from the other side of 
 the river to complain that they had not received 
 their arrears he immediately sent for them, put 
 musquets in their hands, and thus confidence 
 was restored to the minds of the affrighted 
 towns-people. 
 
 Whilst living in the hills, it was necessary 
 that Mr. Scott should be watchful of his per- 
 sonal safety ; as these mountaineers, like the 
 North American savages, cherish the feeling, 
 that the death of those who have fallen in bat- 
 tle can only be atoned for by taking the lives 
 of some of their enemies ; and consider it as a 
 stain upon their honour, unless they can return 
 to their native village with some of their skulls. 
 A striking illustration of this occurred at Nunkh- 
 low, in May, 1830. A party of Cassyas, ap- 
 parently without arms, were admitted as friends 
 within the stockade, and politely received by 
 Mr. Scott, who shortly dismissed them : but 
 scarcely had they proceeded one or two hundred 
 yards, and within sight of the sentinels, when 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 49 
 
 they pulled out their concealed weapons, and 
 murdered a poor unoffending dhobee*; at the same 
 time severely wounding others who were wash- 
 ing in company with him. On inquiry, it was 
 ascertained, that some of their relations had been 
 killed, a few days before, by a party of Sebun- 
 dies, which they were determined to revenge, 
 and had come to the stockade with the deter- 
 mination of murdering Mr. Scott, if an opportu- 
 nity occurred; but, finding that the guards were 
 vigilant, they were compelled to wreak their 
 vengeance on meaner victims. After this, in 
 transacting business, Mr. Scott always had his 
 double-barrelled guns, and sword, within his 
 reach. Since then, the tranquillity of the Cassya 
 country has been often disturbed but no 
 general rising has taken place ; Mr. Scott hav- 
 ing succeeded in conciliating most of the Cassya 
 chieftains. 
 
 The principal obstacles to the pacification of 
 the country has been the heroic conduct of a 
 Cassya leader named Monbot. Born in the igno- 
 ble condition of a slave to the Rajah Teeruth 
 Singh, he has risen, by his undaunted spirit, to 
 the chief command. Foremost in every fight, 
 although often discomfited, and once severely 
 
 * Washerman.. 
 F 2 
 
50 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 wounded, he has ever breathed the same spirit 
 of defiance, and has proudly expressed his de- 
 termination never to submit to the British Go- 
 vernment with his dying breath. However cruel 
 and perfidious the conduct of the Gassy as may 
 have been, and however erroneous the impres- 
 sion he may labour under, yet, with regard to 
 his means of information, it is impossible not 
 to respect the patriotic feeling which has ani^ 
 mated his conduct. 
 
 This active leader cut up four or five of our 
 small detachments ; he generally succeeded by 
 planting his men in ambush, either in long grass, 
 or behind rocks, who springing up, or darting 
 out upon our men, cut them down before they 
 had time to fire. On one occasion, he pounced, 
 sword in hand, upon our party at Myrung, 
 whilst unarmed and busily employed marketing 
 in the bazar : his sudden appearance of course 
 produced an instantaneous rout, and the men, 
 with great difficulty, escaped to their stockade ; 
 he cut down one and wounded others. His 
 career was nearly closed, in May, 1830; Lieut. 
 H. Vetch having received correct information as 
 to his haunt, surrounded the house, at night, 
 with a party. Monbot, seeing himself beset, 
 broke down one side of the house with the in- 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 51 
 
 tention of escaping ; but his egress was barred 
 in this direction, by Lieut. Vetch, who had plant- 
 ed himself there with his fowling piece. Sending 
 an arrow through that officer's cap, Monbot 
 made a last desperate push for the door, and, 
 laying about him with his sword, broke, in the 
 darkness, through the party, and escaped. 
 
 For these last two years the attention of Mr. 
 Scott had been much directed towards develop- 
 ing the resources of the Cassya country; and, in 
 his dying hour, what purer consolation could he 
 have felt, than to behold the success attending 
 the Sanatarium, to the establishment of which 
 his exertions had powerfully contributed ? In a 
 political point of view, I have been told that, 
 latterly, he looked forward to these and the 
 Neelgherry and Simla hills, as proper sites for 
 establishing colonies, in which a race of hardy 
 European soldiers might be reared, capable of 
 affording us support amidst the various shocks 
 to which our Indian empire may be exposed in 
 future. In speculating upon this, I think he 
 must have had in view the possibility of our ma- 
 ritime supremacy being endangered, thereby 
 cutting off our supply of recruits ; although 
 doubtless other contingencies entered into his 
 calculation. It is now not more than fifty years 
 
52 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 since the French and English contended, in the 
 Indian ocean, for the sovereignty of the seas ; 
 and, since then, the application of steam, to pur- 
 poses of warfare, has tended to equalize all naval 
 power: but, at present, there is not much ground 
 for apprehension on that score; although Mr. 
 Cooper has told us that the British flag must 
 succumb to that of America somewhere about 
 the year 1850. 
 
 In his mental character, Mr. Scott possessed 
 a vigour and grasp of understanding which is 
 rarely to be met with: it exercised itself more 
 readily in moral and political discussion, and in 
 scientific pursuits, than in imaginative studies ; 
 at the same time, his attainments as a linguist 
 were of no mean order. Mr. Scott was w r eli ac- 
 quainted with the Persian, Hindostanee, and 
 Bengalee languages, and had attained considera- 
 ble knowledge of the Assamese and G arrow 
 dialects ; but the diversity of his pursuits charac- 
 terized his mind more than any thing else. The 
 sister sciences of natural philosophy, chemistry, 
 geology, and mineralogy, were not only fami- 
 liar to him, but, from a knowledge of these, he 
 had made excursions into the realms of natural 
 history and zoology. In his early years he had 
 been much addicted to the study of mechanics, 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 53 
 
 and practical surveying had been one of his 
 amusements. Being often alone, and at a dis- 
 tance from medical aid, he had been compelled 
 to study medicine; and I have understood, from 
 medical men, that his proficiency, therein, was 
 very respectable. He was in the habit of sub- 
 scribing to, and reading, the different medical 
 periodicals. From this his attention had been 
 diverted to the kindred science of Physiology, 
 and in this he had made extensive inquiries. 
 A favourite hypothesis of his was, that the differ- 
 ence in the height of large and small men, merely 
 consisted in the superior length of the head, 
 arms, and legs, of the former, and that the bodies 
 were neither larger nor stronger. This physiolo- 
 gical opinion was certainly confirmed by mea- 
 surements taken of the grenadier battalion 
 men of His Majesty's 17th Regiment, by a friend 
 of his: hence he inferred the comparative ineffi- 
 ciency of grenadiers for military purposes; 
 and, reasoning upon much the same principle, 
 he argued, that a small man, on a large horse, 
 would prove much more efficient than a large 
 man, in a cavalry charge, from the superior 
 momentum with which the horse would come in 
 contact with its opponent in the adverse line. 
 
 But all these various pursuits were of prodi- 
 gious advantage to him in administering the 
 
54 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 government of an extensive and newly settled 
 country. The soldier might be more familiar 
 with tactics and the general theory of war; but, 
 in regard to jungle warfare, knowledge of loca- 
 lities, or the character of the enemy on the 
 N. E. Frontier, he could scarcely pretend to vie 
 with Mr. Scott : whilst, from his previous official 
 occupations, and habits of inquiry, on all points 
 of reference made to him by subordinate magis- 
 trates, collectors, surveyors, or medical men, he 
 was completely at home. On seeing Mr. Scott, 
 for the first time, it struck me with astonishment 
 how he had been able to acquire this diversity 
 of knowledge ; knowing, that, throughout his 
 career in India, he had been busily employed ; 
 but I ascertained afterwards, that he was in the 
 habit of reading late at night, after his friends 
 had left him for the evening*. 
 
 * When I visited Mr. Scott in 1808, his more sedentary occu- 
 pations, when at leisure from his official duties, were, exclusive 
 of general reading, some particular branches of natural phi- 
 losophy, as chemistry, practical mechanics, &c. ; the last chiefly 
 in connexion with his agricultural pursuits and gardening, 
 both of which he was always extremely partial to. The bent 
 of his mind seemed to lead him constantly to aim at invention, 
 or the improvement of whatever object of public utility occur- 
 red to his observation, whether in books or in the world ; and, 
 in a country where the arts are in their infancy, a fine field was 
 every where open for the indulgence of a turn which afterwards 
 became so extensively useful. He had happily acquired in 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 55 
 
 In his public character, the principal trait in 
 Mr. Scott was an entire devotion to the service, 
 
 early youth an insatiable love of books, as the only perma- 
 nent and ever new charm of existence ; and none could have 
 entered, more entirely than he, into the feelings with which 
 we might suppose the mind of a Telemachus to have been ab- 
 sorbed, when, keeping the flocks of Metophis in the Oasis of 
 Egypt, he breathed that beautiful soliloquy, ending thus : 
 " Happy are they whose amusement is knowledge, and whose 
 supreme delight is the cultivation of the mind ! Wherever 
 they shall be driven by the persecutions of fortune, the means 
 of employment are still with them ; and that weary listlessness 
 which renders life insupportable to the voluptuous and the lazy, 
 is unknown to those who can employ themselves in reading." 
 Employment is, indeed, the GREAT SECRET of happiness, 
 and this will be in just proportion to the dignity or meanness 
 of the occupation but " he has lived with little observation 
 on himself or others," says Dr. Johnson, in the Rambler^ "who 
 does not know that to be idlt is to be vicious*" Mr. Scott's 
 library, though not then extensive, was well chosen, and ar- 
 ranged ; so that the general reader was always sure to find 
 abundant amusement, and the more studious something adapt- 
 ed to his particular train of thought, in whatever branch of re- 
 search his views might lead him. The translations of the 
 Greek and Roman classics ; some of the best historians, and 
 most celebrated writers on subjects of natural and moral phi- 
 losophy and political economy; books of reference; diction- 
 aries of most languages ; ancient and modern maps, &c. occupied 
 select corners of his collection. Nor would the lover of works 
 
 * Whoever wishes to see this argument powerfully enforced may consult the 
 " Shakespear of English Divinity," Bishop J. Taylor, in his most celebrated 
 work, " How to Live and Die :" the former is more particularly referred to 
 in the present instance. 
 
 G 
 
56 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 which led him to strain every faculty in promot- 
 ing measures of general utility, coupled with a 
 rare disinterestedness as to pecuniary matters. 
 In private life, the leading feature in his charac- 
 ter was an enlarged and expanded benevolence, 
 which influenced him to exert himself to advance 
 the individual interests of all under his charge, 
 European or native, in as much, as his limited 
 means would permit; and the same feeling led 
 to those simple, unostentatious, but extensive 
 charities, which cheered the hearts of the poor 
 
 of fiction, chivalry, or romance, find himself at a loss for 
 congenial pastime, but might even review the enjoyments of 
 his early days in company with De Foe, Richardson, Ann 
 Radcliffe, &c. or even Amadis de Gaul and the renowned son 
 of Mandi. A particular friend of Mr. Scott's and my own, 
 who at a later period, delighted in such books as drew me- 
 lancholy views of life, or, that tended to steel the mind 
 
 " With precepts that would make invincible 
 " The heart that conn'd them," 
 
 or to wean it from the world, was astonished to find 
 in his library what he termed "his own casket selection." 
 Among these were Rasselas, Burton's Anatomy (or Democritus 
 junior)^ Shakespear, Thomas a Kempis, Paradise Lost, Select 
 Works of Bishop Hall, and some others, and told him 
 afterwards, that he would rather pass his life with him 
 at Goruckpore, warring against the tenants of the forest 
 which there abound, and enjoying the " gentle sleeping peace" 
 of his abode and conversation, than be the Emperor Napoleon 
 then in the zenith of his power. ED. 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 57 
 
 and afflicted, within the range of its vivifying 
 influence. It was this charm of goodness which 
 operated on the hearts of the native population, 
 and induced them so generally to look up to 
 and to call Mr. Scott the father of his people: 
 and the same emotion was felt by the European 
 gentlemen under his influence, although not ex- 
 pressed with so much exaggeration. 
 
 Mr. Scott's public labours were appalling: 
 they commenced at sunrise ; he did not rise from 
 his couch, but immediately began to hear native 
 reports, trials, and other business. About 11 he 
 dressed and breakfasted but it was not a period 
 of relaxation. His table was strewed with Eng- 
 lish letters, which he answered whilst he snatched 
 a hasty meal, and, ever and anon, the amlah 
 were bustling into the room to demand orders 
 upon particular cases. About 12, he went 
 to the kutcherry, and remained until sunset, 
 when he strolled into his garden. When in 
 kutcherry, or, on occasions when visits were 
 paid him, Mr. Scott was in the habit of listening 
 to, and entering freely into conversation with, 
 the natives around him, and encouraged them to 
 open their minds to him. On one occasion, I 
 particularly admired his address. The ex-Rajah 
 of Assam, Poor under Singh, had been express- 
 
 G 2 
 
58 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 ing himself with warmth in regard to the oppres- 
 sions committed by the subordinate native 
 officers under our administration, at the same 
 time insinuating that matters were better ma- 
 naged under their native princes. Mr. Scott said 
 there was great truth in this, as regarded the 
 native officers ; and, that he would be happy if 
 the Rajah would point out in what manner these 
 excesses were repressed by the native rulers. 
 The Rajah said, that it was their custom to hear 
 all complaints viva voce ; afterwards to summon 
 the party complained against; and, if his state- 
 ment proved unsatisfactory, prompt punishment 
 ensued, without further delay for witnesses : 
 whilst the European gentlemen took down the 
 complainant's deposition, and that of his wit- 
 nesses ; summoned the defendant and took down 
 his statement, then called for his witnesses ; ere 
 they arrived a couple of months had elapsed, and 
 the Judge had forgot every thing, and was com- 
 pletely at the mercy of the amlah, who read what 
 they pleased to him; and, after all, the trial 
 might be made over to the Circuit Judge. In jus- 
 tification of the practice of taking written depo- 
 sitions, Mr. Scott replied, " Swurgo Deo, you 
 are of celestial origin, and can recollect every 
 thing. We are earth-born, and when we go 
 to dinner, forget what we have heard in the 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 59 
 
 course of the day; therefore we write down 
 what we hear." " Swurgo Deo" literally means 
 " Lord of heaven/' and is the usual title by which 
 the Rajahs of Assam are addressed; the point of 
 Mr. Scott's reply consisted in his happy applica- 
 tion of this. 
 
 Mr. Scott carried on all his own correspond- 
 ence without any assistance : he had two officers 
 of the army as assistants; but they were stationed 
 at a distance from him, in charge of extensive 
 districts. His extensive correspondence made 
 heavy demands upon his time ; to carry it on, he 
 was compelled, in hearing causes, or, in making 
 revenue settlements, to snatch a hasty moment 
 of leisure, during the interval that one cause was 
 decided and another brought on, or that one wit- 
 ness had been heard and another was brought in. 
 This incessant labour, I cannot entertain a doubt, 
 accelerated the progress of his malady. 
 
 In his early years, Mr. Scott had been 
 particularly fond of hunting and shooting ; 
 and even in Assam, amidst such weighty public 
 cares, he was always ready, at the call of his 
 youthful friends, to join them in a tyger, boar- 
 hunt, or other animating sport. Equally skilled in 
 games of chance, although no gambler, he never 
 
60 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 refused to engage in any innocent pastime. An 
 admirable shot and horseman*, and always dispos- 
 ed to take an interest in their amusements, these 
 
 * On the visit before alluded to, I witnessed, with equal 
 surprise and pleasure, the beautiful horsemanship he had at- 
 tained, and his wonderful address in all field amusements. He 
 was then a rather delicate, slimly-formed young man in his 
 22nd year. His astonishing feats in hunting the wild boar, 
 a sport which, above all others, requires, and affords the 
 best opportunities for the display of individual skill and bold- 
 ness, were the admiration of every one. In truth, I know not 
 better how to describe him at that period than by remarking, 
 that he united, in a degree I have never seen equalled, those 
 various qualifications so well delineated by Mr. Daniel John- 
 Bon, in his u Indian Field Sports," who was obviously himself 
 an adept in this branch of the chase, and by Captain Wil- 
 liamson, in his " Wild Sports of the East," as indispensable 
 to perfection in this attractive, but, at the same time, most 
 dangerous of all amusements. 
 
 Goruckpore was, at that time, and probably still continues, 
 one of the finest sporting countries in India ; abounding in 
 game of every species, which had rarely, if ever, been disturb- 
 ed : our dominion in that quarter having, then, been of very 
 recent occurrence. 
 
 Mr. Scott's favorite game r however, was the wild boar. 
 Such was his ardour in this hazardous amusement, that even 
 when on a tiger, or other hunting excursion, if a boar appear- 
 ed in sight, however distant, he would instantly descend from 
 his elephant, and, mounting his horse, go off in pursuit, Al- 
 though none of the rest of the party once thought of follow- 
 ing, or even imagined he could possibly come up with him ; 
 yet he invariably killed his game, to the surprise of every one 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 61 
 
 qualities endeared him to the young military 
 men around him, and induced them, on his ac- 
 
 indeed, I never knew him fail, with the exception of one 
 instance, which I shall presently relate. 
 
 So keen and undaunted was he in this chosen amusement, 
 that he often went out alone in the hottest season of the year, 
 (May and June, when I visited him,) and occasionally met 
 with desperate rencounters. He had always a horse or two 
 laid up in his stable, or at grass, recovering from their 
 wounds. Whoever is unacquainted with wild boar hunting 
 in India (where this animal, I believe, attains the largest 
 size known) may imagine its danger when they are told, that 
 it is not at all uncommon for a horse to be mortally wounded, 
 or disabled for life, in these encounters besides the haz- 
 ards the rider runs, not only from so redoubtable a savage as 
 a full grown wild boar, with eye of lightning, " whetting 
 his tusks" and breathing rage, but, from the incessant obsta- 
 cles usually presented to the hunter by a waste, uncultivated, 
 country, and the treacherous nature of the ground in India, 
 which is frequently full of covered holes, deep and broad 
 cracks and fissures, which, momentarily, threaten the most 
 desperate falls to the sportman. 
 
 I quote the following from Mr. Johnson's work, where he 
 speaks of wild boar hunting : w Following them over rotten 
 ground is the most dangerous part of the sport. It is not 
 uncommon to see two or three horses tumble, at the same 
 instant, going over ground to all appearance, perfectly smooth." 
 The following from Mr. J. is, also, in point " I was one of 
 a party of eight gentlemen, on a sporting excursion near 
 Patna. Returning one morning from shooting, we met 
 a very large boar in a rhur field, from which, with much 
 difficulty, we drove him into the plain^ where he stood at bay, 
 
62 A MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 count, to make exertions in the public service, 
 uncalled for by their strict military duty ; which 
 I should feel much pleasure in particularizing, 
 
 challenging the whole party, boldly charging every horse 
 that came within 50 yards of him, grunting loudly as he 
 advanced. The horse I rode, would not go near him, and, 
 when I was a good way off, he charged another horse with 
 such ferocity, that mine reared and plunged so violently as 
 to throw me two or three others were dismounted nearly at the 
 same time, and, though there were many horses present that 
 had been long accustomed to the sport, not one of them 
 would stand his charge ; he fairly drove the whole party off 
 the field, and gently trotted on to the grass jungle (foaming 
 and grinding his tusks) through which it was impossible to 
 follow or drive him." It is but justice to Mr. Johnson, 
 however, to add that " he was then (as he himself confesses) 
 a novice in the sport." 
 
 One day, when Mr. Scott went out alone on these perilous 
 enterprises, I was a good deal alarmed at seeing him, some 
 hours after, arrive at home on foot, literally " dabbled in 
 blood," but, to my joy and no small surprise, altogether 
 unhurt. He had left his horse so severely ripped as to be 
 unable to quit the ground. On this occasion he had lost 
 his spear, which the boar, a very large and powerful 
 animal, had carried off with him into the jungles. The horse 
 was unfortunately entirely ruined as a hunter, but he after- 
 wards employed him at a farm he had established a few miles 
 from the town. 
 
 I could easily relate numberless interesting adventures we 
 met with during that period, did the limits of a note (already 
 too long) admit of it but the various wild animals of the 
 East, as well as the mode of hunting and destroying them, 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 63 
 
 did my limits admit of it ; but I cannot resist giv- 
 ing one instance of this. Perceiving the vast in- 
 fluence that the Cassya leader, Monb*t, exercised 
 
 ^^ 
 
 over the warlike councils of his countrymen, 
 Mr. Scott saw that unless he was secured or kill- 
 ed in battle, there was little prospect of settling 
 the country, and his mind naturally turned to the 
 means of accomplishing this ; but the only plan 
 which seemed feasible was that two or three Eu- 
 ropeans with double-barrelled guns, should pro- 
 ceed close to his haunts, in the hope that the small- 
 ness of their force would induce Monbut to attack 
 them ; and, in such a case, Mr. Scott calculated 
 
 have so often and so well been described, that the subject 
 seems scarcely susceptible of novelty. 
 
 Soon after leaving Mr. Scott, on this occasion, I learned 
 that, in company with Captain W. P. Price, another of our 
 most famous sportsmen (now Colonel in Europe), and other 
 gentlemen, they destroyed above 50 tigers, in little more than 
 a month a thing not at all extraordinary in a country which 
 nature seemed to have expressly formed as a genial haunt 
 for the creatures of the desert. Mr. Scott, while I was 
 with him, one day killed from his elephant, a large " Boa 
 constrictor " serpent. These are common in that quarter, and 
 grow to 30 or 40 feet in length, and in strength and circumfer- 
 ence almost incredible : where such gigantic creatures exist, 
 all the other tenants of the forest (the elephant and rhinoce- 
 ros, perhaps, alone excepted) fly before them, or become their 
 prey. See the different accounts of the terrific seizure of 
 tigers by the Liboy^Kserpent of the same species. ED. 
 
 H 
 
64 MEMOIR OF THE LATE 
 
 that a good shot would inevitably^bring him down, 
 and that his disheartened followers, (who seldom 
 amounted to more than 10 or 12 men, unless on 
 grand occasions,) would desist from the attack, ap- 
 palled by the fate of their leader, and would thus 
 enable our party to retire. So firmly persuaded 
 was he of the practicability of this, that I am 
 convinced he would have undertaken it in person, 
 had not the consideration of his rank deterred 
 him; as Mr. Scott thought, justly, that his possi- 
 ble fall would have afforded too great a triumph 
 to the mountaineers, and the attempt, from one 
 in his high official situation, might not, he feared, 
 in such event, have been favorably viewed by 
 the European community. Considerations of 
 delicacy restrained Mr. Scott from proposing 
 such an adventurous scheme to any one ; but he 
 had occasionally mentioned it in conversation. 
 It so happened, that a very intelligent young 
 officer, Ensign Brodie, of the 13th N. I. heard 
 him, on one of these occasions. Of an ardent, 
 adventurous disposition, the idea fired his mind, 
 and he immediately proposed a plan for its ac- 
 complishment, which was adopted. Disguised 
 as a Sebundy seapoy, with his face and legs 
 blackened, he started from Nunkhlow, accom- 
 panied by a sepoy of tried courage, and two 
 Cossyas in our interest. When near Monbut's 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 65 
 
 haunts, the Cassyas were led by ropes, as if 
 Ensign Broclie and the sepoy were returning 
 with them, as prisoners, from an expedition : 
 but, although he sojourned some time in the 
 neighbourhood, the ruse did not take effect; 
 Monbut either was absent, or did not choose to 
 risk an encounter with two practised shots, of 
 whose reputation he, no doubt, had heard. 
 
 Subsequently this enterprising young officer 
 commanded a party of 25 or 30 Cassyas, who 
 had espoused the British cause, and in the cold 
 season of 1830, when Lower Assam was invaded, 
 performed essential service at their head. En- 
 thusiastically attached to these mountaineers, he 
 was emulous of rivalling them in deeds of har- 
 dihood and simplicity of living, and performed 
 astonishing marches, altogether on foot, without 
 a tent, and living on the same fare as his men. 
 Undeterred by the dread of miasma, he pene- 
 trated the densest jungles, and ferreted the 
 Cassyas out of their haunts; but the malig- 
 nant air of these woods proved too much for 
 him, and prematurely closed his gallant career. 
 He sickened of fever in the jungles, and, drag- 
 ging himself to Nunkhlow, was borne to his 
 grave after a day or two's illness there ; his 
 dying hours uncheered by the presence of any 
 
 H 2 
 
66 MEMOfR OF THE LATE 
 
 European, who could convey his last wishes to 
 his friends : but his spirit borne up to the last, 
 by the proud consolation of having discharged 
 his duty to his country. Thus perished an 
 officer, of whom Mr. Scott often said, that " he 
 only wanted opportunities to rise to the first 
 posts in the army*/' Mr. Scott was highly pleased 
 with the activity and gallantry of Captain Lister, 
 Lieuts. Vetch and Townshend, whilst employed 
 on this service ; and, above all, with their gra- 
 tuitous exertions in promoting negociations with 
 the Cassya leaders, and in conducting other 
 civil duties. 
 
 In private life Mr. Scott was the most unas- 
 suming of human beings, and his manners the 
 most simple and unpretending. At his table con- 
 versation was on the most intimate and easy 
 footing. Fond of discussion, he was, at all times, 
 ready to break a lance with any adversary; but 
 his weapon never carried any offensive wound, 
 nor was he disposed to oppress any man with the 
 superiority of his intellect. Armed at all points, 
 rather than let his intellectual foils be rusted, he 
 was disposed to enter the arena merely for amuse- 
 ment, and took up any side of the argument, al- 
 
 * See Mr. Scott's letter| to Lieut. Vetch, No. ^f of the 
 Appendix. ED. 
 
DAVID SCOTT, ESQ. 67 
 
 though somewhat contrary to his real opinion. 
 Gifted with a keen perception of the ridiculous, 
 it did not manifest itself in the ordinary form of 
 quizzing, but in a silent internal laugh, display- 
 ing itself by a smile on the lips, and the sparkling 
 of his small, but lively eyes*. His conversation 
 was replete with humorous anecdotes of the wild 
 tribes around him, which, I regret, my memory 
 has not preserved. In one instance, however, I 
 cannot forget his description of aGarrow enter- 
 tainment, to which he had been invited. He 
 found the guests seated on their hams. After 
 partaking plentifully of pig, fowl, and rice, 
 large gourds were introduced, filled with a 
 kind of ale, which the Ganymede of the party, 
 a stout Garrow, handed round in a manner which 
 highly amused Mr. Scott. Seizing the nose 
 of one of the guests, he poured the contents 
 down his throat, until the vessel was empty ; 
 whilst the lover of malt, if a fresh man, being in 
 great danger of suffocation, made strenuous 
 efforts to escape, to the great amusement of the 
 lookers on. In this manner, he circled round 
 the guests, and made repeated circumvolutions, 
 until the whole party were involved in intoxica- 
 tion. 
 
 * How forcibly this passage (which I have put in italics} 
 will recall David Scott to the remembrance of those who knew 
 him! ED. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 Extract from a letter from David Scott, Esq. Agent 
 to the Governor General on the North-East Frontier, 
 to G. Swinton, Esq. Secretary to the Bengal Govern- 
 ment, dated Camp Budderpore, 31st January, 1824. 
 I HAVE now the honor to submit a report of occur- 
 rences on this frontier, since the date of my last dispatch, 
 from the station of Sylhet, for the information of the 
 Right Honorable the Governor General in Council. 
 
 Subsequently to the action* which took place on the 17th 
 instant, Major Newton returned with the force under his 
 command to this place, withdrawing the whole of the 
 troops from Cachar. The Burmese then advanced to 
 Juttrapore, about five miles east of the frontier, and 
 eight from hence, and the two armies from Assam 
 and Munipore formed a junction near that place, and 
 threw a bridge over the Soormah river, on both sides of 
 which they erected stockades. 
 
 This day, the vakeel, formerly deputed by the "Magis- 
 trate of Sylhet to meet the army from Assam, and several 
 messengers who had been dispatched with letters, and 
 
 * See London Gazette of the 25th November, 1824-, p. 1954. 
 
70 APPENDIX. 
 
 detained in the Burmese camp, returned with a letter to my 
 address, written in the Bengalee character, but in a dia- 
 lect which no person in camp understands, so that I have 
 not yet been able to ascertain the contents. From the 
 information brought by the vakeel and messenger, it 
 appears that the Burmese force at Juttrapore is about 
 6,000 strong, of whom 4,000 are Assamese and Cacharees; 
 they have also a force of about 2,000 men in Hilakondy, 
 of whom one-half are supposed to be Burmahs, so that 
 the number of the latter, who arrived by the way of 
 Munipore, must have been more considerable than 
 might have been supposed from the effect of the opposi- 
 tion made to them by Gumbheer Sing, who himself 
 computed them at 1,000 or 1,500 men carrying muskets. 
 
 In a letter from the Burmese commander, to the address 
 of Govind Chunder and the British authorities jointly, 
 received some days ago, as well as from the information 
 now brought by the vakeel, who was confined in the 
 Assamese camp for 18 days ; it appears that the Burmese 
 have entered Cachar, upon an invitation formerly given 
 by Govind Chunder. They profess to have no desire of 
 retaining the country themselves, but said they mean to 
 return to Assam via Jynteah, after revisiting Govind 
 Chunder, and securing the persons of their enemies 
 Gumbheer Sing, Morjeet and Chourjeet, whom they 
 declare they have orders to follow and seize wherever they 
 may have retired. In the commander's letter, he also 
 complains of the attack made upon him at Bikrampore. 
 
 In reply to this letter, and in a communication previ- 
 ously made, I have acquainted the Commander in Chief, 
 
APPENDIX. 71 
 
 that I had already, in three different letters, informed 
 him, by the way of Assam, that the country of Cachar 
 was under the protection of the British Government, and 
 that the occupation of it would therefore be resisted ; 
 and, that, while I regretted the occurrence at Bikram- 
 pore, he could not but be sensible that it was entirely 
 attributable to his own conduct in persevering in this 
 unwarrantable encroachment after repeated intimations 
 that it would not be permitted. 
 
 I further called upon him, now that he was convinced 
 that we were in earnest, to evacuate the country without 
 delay, and prevent worse consequences ; and I acquaint- 
 ed him that, in case of refusal, I should be compelled, 
 however unwillingly, to order the advance of our troops 
 not only into Cachar itself, but also into Assam, whence 
 the chief part of the invading army had proceeded. In 
 respect to Govind Chunder, I stated, that we had no 
 objection to his re-establishment under the protection, 
 and as the act, of the British Government ; and that, 
 although we could not with honor deliver up the Mun- 
 niporian chiefs, much less suffer them to be arrested in 
 our territory, we would willingly concur so far in his 
 masters views, as to engage that they should not again 
 be permitted to disturb the peace of Cachar. The reply 
 to this communication will be submitted to his Lordship 
 in Council, when received ; but with reference to the 
 considerable time that has elapsed since my arrival here, 
 which has hitherto been spent in vain attempts to esta- 
 blish a correspondence with the Burmese, (interrupted 
 until yesterday by their invariably detaining my messen- 
 
 ers,) I have considered it proper to make his Lordship 
 
72 APPENDIX. 
 
 in Council acquainted with our past proceedings ; and to 
 state that, although I am satisfied that the Burmese 
 commander has no intention of committing hostilities in 
 our territories at present, yet I have little expectation of 
 his being induced to retire from Cachar, without recourse 
 being had to coercive measures. The necessity for 
 these appears now more urgent than ever, with refer- 
 ence to the tenor of Mr. Robertson's dispatches, copies 
 of which were conveyed to me in your letter of the 24th 
 instant, and the consequent probability that the court of 
 A va will avail itself of the presence of the army now in 
 Cachar, to annoy us in this quarter, which, from the want 
 of cavalry on our part, and the number of their forces, 
 there is no doubt they could do to a very great extent, by 
 merely plundering the country in small parties, without 
 ever risking an engagement. 
 
 I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letters of the 17th and 24th instant, with their enclosures, 
 to which I shall hereafter reply. In the mean time, I beg 
 to state, that 1 shall consider myself authorized to pre- 
 vent the entrance of a Burmese force into the territories 
 of the Jynteah Rajah, by which route they threaten to 
 return to Assam. 
 
 Having just received a translation of a document in the 
 Burmese character, that accompanied the Bengalee let- 
 ter alluded in the fifth paragraph of this address, I find 
 that it differs very considerably from the letter, of which 
 it was supposed to be a counterpart. I have the honor 
 to enclose a translation, and to save time, I have sent the 
 rough copy, which I request may be returned. I also 
 
APPENDIX. 73 
 
 enclose the original Burmese letter, the Persian version 
 being obviously defective in several places, and, in par- 
 ticular, where it is stated that Gopee (Govind) Chunder 
 went to Ava, and is now with the governor of Assam, 
 that person being still in our territories, and, whatever he 
 may formerly have done, at present disclaiming the con- 
 nection. I am informed that, after the action on the 
 17th, messengers were dispatched for instructions to 
 Ava, so that unless previous orders to that effect may in 
 the interim be received, I do not anticipate any hostile 
 movement on the part of the Burmese, until the receipt of 
 an answer. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT, 
 Agent to the Governor General. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Extract from a letter from David Scott, Esq. Agent 
 of the Governor General on the North East Frontier , 
 to G. Swinton, Esq. Secretary to the Bengal Govern- 
 ment, dated Camp Budderpore, 3rd February, 1824. 
 
 IN continuation of the subject of my letter, to your ad- 
 dress of the 31st ultimo, I beg to acquaint you, for the 
 information of the Right Honorable the Governor General 
 in Council, that my interpreter returned, this day, from 
 the Burmese Camp at Juttrapore, and states that the com- 
 mander of the forces there, in reply to his demand for an 
 answer to the various letters addressed to him, declared 
 that he would give none until he received instructions 
 from Ava, to which place he had dispatched messengers. 
 
 r 2 
 
74 APPENDIX. 
 
 The interpreter says, that the commander behaved to 
 him in a very outrageous manner, sometimes threatening, 
 in a violent passion, to cut off his head, and sometimes 
 declaring, that he would satisfy his resentment by march- 
 ing to England. He further states, that they said that 
 the governor of Assam was not with the army ; but, 
 on consideration of the tenor of the Burmese letter, of 
 which a translation was submitted with my postscript of 
 yesterday's date, I think it is not improbable that they 
 have been induced to make this declaration, with reference 
 to the contents of my letters of date the 23rd ultimo 
 and 1st instant, of which translations are annexed, in 
 hopes of preventing the advance of our troops into 
 Assam. 
 
 The Jynteah Rajah has, with the usual procrastinating 
 policy of the native Princes, declined entering into a 
 treaty of alliance, until, as he says, the necessity may 
 prove very urgent. I have pointed out the folly of this 
 line of conduct, in the strongest terms ; and, with a view 
 to prevent his being intimidated into submission, by the 
 approach of the Burmese army, I have, in the mean 
 time, promised him the assistance of our troops, provided 
 he himself makes all the opposition he can ; and declared, 
 that if he admit the Burmese into his territories, without 
 doing so, we shall treat him as an enemy. 
 
 He has collected a considerable force, said to amount 
 to several thousand archers ; and has undoubtedly the 
 means of defending his own territory, at least until assist- 
 ance could be afforded him, should he, from his conduct, 
 appear to deserve it. I would propose presenting him 
 
APPENDIX. 75 
 
 with a part of the muskets that are expected from Cal- 
 cutta. 
 
 I have the honor of forwarding a translation of a letter 
 respecting the Jynteah country, which I am just about 
 to despatch to the Burmese commander. 
 
 In respect to the exercise of the power with which his 
 Lordship has been pleased to vest me, of eventually direct- 
 ing the advance of the troops into Assam, I shall observe 
 the utmost caution. Of the inconvenience that might 
 result from such a movement, I am fully aware ; and it is 
 only in case it should appear to be indispensable towards 
 compelling the evacuation of Cachar, before the com- 
 mencement of the unhealthy season, that I should ven- 
 ture to have recourse to it. In that case, also, I shall 
 at the same time address you by express ; and there 
 will still be time to countermand the order, via Rungpore, 
 should it then appear inexpedient to Government. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT, 
 
 Agent to the Governor General. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Copy of a Letter from David Scott, Esq. Agent of 
 the Governor General on the North East Frontier, 
 to G. Swinton, Esq. Secretary to the Bengal Govern- 
 ment, dated Camp Budderpore, bth February, 1824. 
 
 I HAVE the honor to acquaint you, for the information 
 of the Right Honorable the Governor General in Coun- 
 
76 APPENDIX. 
 
 cil, that nothing material has occurred in this quarter, 
 since the date of my despatch of the 2nd. 
 
 This day I received, from the Acting Magistrate of 
 Sylhet, a letter in the Burmese character, addressed by 
 the commander of their forces, to the Rajah of Jynteah, 
 and forwarded by the Rajah to Mr. Turquand, 
 
 An interpreter, whom I expect soon, not having arrived, 
 I have as yet been unable to ascertain the contents of 
 this letter, which are also unknown to the Rajah him- 
 self; and as it is not improbable that it may be of an 
 important nature, I enclose a copy of it without a trans- 
 lation, for the information of Government. 
 
 My letter of the 2nd. to the Burmese commander, 
 was this morning returned after being opened, upon 
 pretence of its being directed to one, instead of the 
 two commanders. I have since dispatched it with the 
 necessary explanation, and it is my intention, should 
 the Burmese proceed towards Jynteah, to send a 
 detachment to assist the Rajah's troops in the defence 
 of the stockades he has erected on the frontier of his 
 country. 
 
 Although no treaty has yet been executed, for the 
 reason stated in my lust despatch, I hope this measure 
 will be approved of by Government, as the abandonment 
 of the Rajah's cause, at this critical juncture, would be 
 productive of the most injurious consequences, by plac- 
 ing at the disposal of the Burmese the whole means 
 he has collected to oppose them, and, still more so, by 
 
APPENDIX. 77 
 
 the panic that their progress in that direction could not 
 fail to create at the station of Sylhet, which has once 
 already been almost entirely desei ted by the inhabitants, 
 on a false and absurd alarm. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT, 
 Agent to the Governor General. 
 
 P. S. As the letter to the Rajah of Jynteah could not 
 be copied in time, for transmission by this-day's dawk, it 
 will be sent to-morrow. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Extract of a letter from the Governor General in 
 Council, at Fort William in Bengal, to the Court of 
 Directors of the East India Company, dated 23rd 
 December, 1825. 
 
 THE proceedings of the Burmese in Assam had ma- 
 terially altered the relative position of the two powers, 
 and placed the former, as they well knew, and often 
 boasted, in a situation the most favourable for making 
 a sudden descent into our territories along the Berham- 
 pooter. The establishment of their authority in that 
 country had been, from the beginning, viewed with just 
 alarm by the civil commissioner Mr. D. Scott, (one of 
 the most upright and intelligent of your servants,) who 
 well aware of the grasping, restless, and ambitious spirit 
 which actuated the Burmese councils, distinctly foresaw, 
 and pointed out, the danger threatening the whole line 
 of our eastern frontier from the change of masters, 
 which the principality of Assam had experienced. 
 
78 APPENDIX. 
 
 It is worthy of remark that, in the early stage of our 
 disputes, the Burmese chiefs in Assam declared, that in 
 1822, Mengee Maha Silwa, at the head of an army of 
 20,000 men, deliberately meditated the plunder of Gowal- 
 parah, and the adjacent country, where no British force 
 could possibly be assembled adequate to check his pro- 
 gress, and they made it matter of reproach against the 
 English, that, notwithstanding the forbearance shown 
 by them on that occasion, we were assembling troops to 
 oppose their designs upon Cachar and Jynteah. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 Letter from Lt> Hamilton Vetch, of the Assam Light 
 Infantry, to CoL Arch. Watson, dated Jorehaut, 
 9th December, 1831. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 I had not seen a great deal of Mr. Scott till his 
 return to Nunkhlow, from Sylhet, in September 1829; at 
 that time he was suffering considerably from his complaint, 
 and in low spirits from the loss of three of his most inti- 
 mate friends*, who had fallen by the Cassyas within 
 the last four months. His disease, at this time, often 
 obliged him to sleep in a sitting posture, and frequently 
 prevented his getting any sleep at all ; still his applica- 
 tion to business never relaxed, and generally, he com- 
 menced hearing petitions, and cases read to him, by day. 
 light in the morning, and often continued at work till 
 it was dark. Sometimes we used to ride through the 
 
 * Lts. Bedingfeld and Burlton, and Dr. Beadon. ED. 
 
APPENDIX. 79 
 
 country, to visit different villages, and endeavour to 
 bring the people to our interest, or gain information of 
 the outlaws ; that means might be taken for their 
 capture ; for, at this time, the Gassy as had given up all 
 attempts at open resistance, but had commenced on a 
 more annoying system ; that of attacking coolies coming 
 with supplies, or cutting off their own countrymen who 
 seemed too favourably inclined to our Government. 
 Although Mr. Scott could scarcely walk from the palpi- 
 tation of his heart, and, indeed, seldom attempted it, 
 still this was no obstacle to his undertaking long and 
 difficult journies. Mounted on a small, but strong and 
 active mule, dressed in his tartan shooting jacket, with 
 his double-barrelled gun in his hand, (for he rarely quit- 
 ted it,) I have seen him climb hills, and descend 
 ravines, where it was astonishing his mule kept its footing, 
 or he his seat. 
 
 On one of these rides, when returning from Myrong, we 
 took a circuit, in hopes of obtaining some information of 
 the outlaws, and intended to have been at Nunkhlow to 
 dinner. In a suspicious part of the road, we saw a Cassya 
 at a distance, whom we were anxious to secure in hopes of 
 getting some information from him. I tried to gallop round, 
 and hinder his escape, but he was too alert for us, and in 
 passing through some jungle, where I had lost sight of 
 him, I came upon five Sebundies, who were retreating 
 from a large body of the outlaws, who, they said, were 
 far too strong for them, and pointed me out some rocks, 
 where they said the enemy were ; I sent word back to 
 Mr. Scott, and we proceeded with our party to the place, 
 which was a jumble of rocks and ravines, covered with 
 
80 APPENDIX. 
 
 jungle, creepers, brambles, brush-wood, and trees. Im- 
 mense masses of granite, overhanging each other, or 
 rolled together, formed numerous caves and fissures, 
 communicating with one another. In this place about a 
 hundred armed outlaws had taken shelter, well know- 
 ing the security of such a retreat : for, in attacking one 
 entrance, a party was exposed to be shot at from perhaps 
 half a dozen other holes in the rocks, so hid by jungle, 
 that it was impossible to know from which side to expect 
 their arrows, and the ground was so broken into precipices, 
 that only one or two men could have been brought to 
 bear on a point. We found little could be done without 
 a larger detachment than we had brought ; the Cassyas, 
 however, had defied us, and commenced shooting out of 
 their holes ; and we determined, if possible, to keep 
 them where they were, till more men should be sent for, 
 and the place, if possible, surrounded. Their arrows, 
 from the holes, were answered by our musket balls : the 
 sepoys watching their opportunity to fire in. We now- 
 learned from a villager of the neighbourhood, that 
 most of the outlaws had provided themselves with 
 iron shields, which they hoped to find proof against 
 our musketry. We had endeavoured to force the only 
 accessible entrance we could discover, but it was strongly 
 barricaded, and only one could have entered by it at a 
 time ; it was well defended by the Cassyas, who were, 
 from a turn in the cave that protected them from our 
 fire, able to command its mouth. At this place, standing 
 behind a projecting piece of rock, and firing our pistols 
 into the hole, from which arrows were flying, both Mr. 
 Scott and myself, heard the balls ring on what we sup- 
 posed to be their iron shields ; and next day it proved 
 
APPENDIX. 81 
 
 to be the case, as we found a shield near this entrance 
 dented with the balls. 
 
 In passing between two rocks, Mr. Scott was on the 
 point of stepping over a small fissure, when he heard a 
 rustle below, and immediately drew back his head, while, 
 at the same instant, an arrow almost grazed his face from 
 below, and, but for his sudden drawing back, must have 
 lodged in his throat. Mr. Scott, I have always heard, 
 entered most keenly into affairs of this sort, and exposed 
 his person, as some might think, to much unnecessary 
 danger. While we were thus engaged, a thunder-storm 
 came on, and the heavy rain which followed, made us 
 slacken our fire. This was immediately observed by the 
 C assy as, who made the rocks resound with their shouts ; 
 calling out, now that the muskets would not go off, it was 
 their turn ; and, plying their arrows with more vigour 
 than ever, wounded some of our men. Night was fast 
 approaching, and all we could possibly hope for was to 
 keep the enemy where they were, till a stronger party 
 should join us in the morning, when we might be able to 
 secure the whole of them : but we were not aware that 
 these caves communicated with some woody dales below ; 
 and, during the night, while some of the Cassyas kept 
 the sentries on the alert, at their posts, by shouting and 
 discharging arrows, the others were making their escape 
 in a different direction, and carrying off their wounded. 
 
 Mr. Scott and myself occupied (during the night) a 
 wretched hut, near the spot, wet, tired, and hungry ; but 
 a message had been despatched to Nunkhlow, and, about 
 nine o'clock, abundance of good cheer and some capital 
 
 K 2 
 
82 APPENDIX. 
 
 champagne arrived, to which we heartily paid our devoirs, 
 and I never saw Mr. Scott in higher spirits, or more 
 entertaining in his conversation than when sitting on the 
 floor of this wretched hovel, where the rain was dropping 
 in upon us through the roof. 
 
 Although a good deal of firing had been kept up by 
 the sentries during the night, all was silent among the 
 rocks at day-break ; and it was soon discovered the place 
 was deserted. By scrambling on our hands and knees, we 
 got down into the caves, but found nothing, except a few 
 dead bodies, broken pots, bows, and empty quivers, strew- 
 ed about in all directions. We got about 40 of the iron 
 shields before mentioned, which evidently had not answer- 
 ed the expectations of the owners, as one man was lying 
 dead on his, which had been put up to protect him, but 
 a musket ball had passed through it into his forehead ; 
 and others that had been placed as a defence at some of 
 the holes, were riddled with balls. I, however, doubt if 
 they would not have proved a protection against musketry 
 at 70 or 80 yards, and a fowling piece of small bore would 
 not have pierced them at perhaps more than half that 
 distance. 
 
 After examining the caves, "parties went, in different 
 directions, in pursuit of the fugitives : but the country 
 was too woody and difficult to afford much hope of com- 
 ing up with them ; and as they had likely dispersed, and 
 disposed of their arms, it was only a few of the leaders 
 that could have been recognised from peaceable subjects, 
 even if we had come among them. Mr. Scott went to 
 Nunkhlow by a different route from myself, and told me 
 
APPENDIX. 83 
 
 (afterwards), that, in passing through a jungly ravine on 
 the way, he heard an arrow which passed his head, but 
 could not see any one for the jungle ; and, as he had only 
 three or four sepoys with him, was not able to make 
 a search for the person who had shot at him. 
 
 I had forgot to mention that we tried to smoke out the 
 Cassyas with stink pots, some of which we had with us; 
 but they were badly made, and the numerous vents and 
 fissures in the rocks, allowed all the smoke to pass up- 
 wards ; and I suspect we came in for a greater share of it 
 than the enemy, who did not seem to care for it, while we 
 were glad to shift our ground. 
 
 I have entered more fully into the detail of this little 
 affair than I would have done, but it was the only one in 
 which Mr. Scott was with me. He was out in many others, 
 with the Sylhet Corps, before I arrived at Nunkhlow; 
 and, after I came to the hills, I was employed, by myself, 
 in a different direction from where Mr. Scott was. From 
 this time I saw much more of Mr. Scott, and was greatly 
 taken with his kind and affable manners, which before 
 I had fancied rather reserved. His application to busi- 
 ness, and the quantity he got through, quite astonished 
 me ; I used often to be awoke before day-break by the 
 amlah reading cases to him ; at other times, when start- 
 ing from Nunkhlow, long before day-light in the morning, 
 on some expedition or other, which he was always plan- 
 ning, for the surprise of the outlaws, I have found him 
 wrapt in his cloak, busy, answering letters. This I 
 believe to have been a constant practice of his, and, in 
 some measure accounted for the mass of business he mas- 
 
84 APPENDIX. 
 
 tered, and the great literary and scientific knowledge he 
 possessed. 
 
 I have never seen any one who endeared himself more 
 to young sportsmen than Mr. Scott, (having been one 
 of the first in India in his day :) he was always willing, 
 when he could spare time, to enter into their pursuits, 
 and that with much relish. I have been with him rhino- 
 ceros shooting on elephants, and snipe shooting, he in 
 his tonjon, and I on foot ; and he seemed as much at 
 home with his gun, in the latter, as in the howdah, sel- 
 dom missing his bird. 
 
 He took much interest in experiments, in ball and 
 shot shooting. It was some time before he would give 
 the preference to detonators ; but, being at last con- 
 vinced of their superior quickness, they became his 
 favourite guns. He had a small guard of his own, armed 
 with double barrels of this description, which would have 
 been found of the greatest service to him in case of emer- 
 gency, in rainy weather, when any other kind of gun 
 would have been almost useless ; and to these emergencies 
 he was constantly exposed. He thought detonators 
 would prove a leveller to all gun-smiths, as he considered 
 the lock to be that in which first-rate ones so much 
 excelled their inferiors in gun- making. 
 
 The more intimately one became acquainted with Mr. 
 Scott, the more it must have been to esteem so excellent 
 and benevolent a man. His ear was always attentive to 
 the voice of complaint, by whomsoever preferred, or at 
 whatever hour, however unjeasonable ; and won for him 
 
APPENDIX. 85 
 
 the hearts of the injured, and the respect of all. Com- 
 pelled by necessity often to adopt severe measures against 
 the Cassyas ; it was their own obstinacy and treachery 
 that forced him to it : for no man could have been more 
 kind or conciliatory to all placed under his control, than 
 Mr. Scott was ; and he took as much interest in improv- 
 ing the condition of all the Cassyas within his reach, as 
 if he had been their father, instead of governor. Ex- 
 erting himself to the utmost in the performance of his 
 duty, he exacted the same from all under him, and his 
 example gave a stimulus to the most indolent. 
 
 Although constantly studying the benefit of all the 
 various tribes in his extensive district, the Assamese, as 
 the most numerous, obtained the greater share of his 
 attention and favours ; but his scheme for colonizing and 
 improving the Cassya hills, was one of the objects he had 
 most deeply at heart. 
 
 (Signed) HAMILTON VETCH. 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 Letter from Mr. Scott to Dr. Lamb, Mymunsing, 10th 
 April. 
 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 SINCE we parted I have been living as quietly as possi- 
 ble ; endeavouring, by avoiding all exertion, during the 
 day, to continue in the state I feel myself in the morn- 
 ing ; and, to a certain extent, this has, I think, been 
 effected, although other bad symptoms have recurred, of 
 
86 APPENDIX. 
 
 which I was in hopes that I had got rid. The night 
 after we left you, I had a considerable palpitation on 
 going to bed, and I took a dose of the hydrocyanic 
 acid, that Mr. Beadon might observe the effects of it 
 with the stethoscope. None however were produced, 
 and I passed a most restless night, with frequent and 
 severe starting ; as bad, I think, as I had at any preced- 
 ing time experienced. In the morning, I took laudanum, 
 and this I have since continued, at night, until yester- 
 day ; sleeping well upon the whole, but with a good deal 
 of interruption from starting, in the early part of the 
 night, particularly. During this time, I have not eaten 
 any thing in the evening, nor drank wine. You were 
 so good as to promise me a statement of my case, when 
 with you, which was in part drawn out. Will you be so 
 good as to send it, as Mr. Beadon is not aware what 
 has been done, and in what state I was some time ago, 
 and is therefore inclined to try the digitalis and other 
 remedies that have already altogether failed: and will 
 you, at the same time, state what you think the best 
 general course to pursue. With best regards to the 
 ladies, and many thanks for your extreme kindness to 
 me, 
 
 I am, 
 
 Your's most sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 P. S. I have received your note by Mr. Imlach, to 
 whom I shall be most happy to afford every assistance in 
 my power, in the prosecution of the speculations he has 
 in view. 
 
APPENDIX. 87 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 Letter from Mr. Beadon to Mr. Lamb, Singamaree, 
 28th April, 1827. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 YOUR kind letter I received yesterday, "and feel particu- 
 larly obliged for Mr. Scott^s case, previous to my joining 
 him ; but I hope the world will not benefit by it for a long 
 time yet. Had I not heard from you, it was my inten- 
 tion to have written shortly. About three days after 
 you left us, Mr. Scott observed, that he thought the 
 sensation conveyed to his fingers was what Laennec de- 
 scribes as the cat-mutter. I told him I thought not 
 exactly that, although evidently not altogether a natural 
 action of the heart ; and I luckily added, that the sensa- 
 tion from the instrument was just what he would suppose 
 from feeling it with his hand. The third night after 
 your departure, Mr. S. had a bad night ; and, again, 
 three nights after that ; and, on both occasions, I used 
 the stethoscope, but there was no perceptible increase 
 either in the action of the heart, or the thrill ; and, as we 
 were doing nothing, and so many remedies had been 
 tried unsuccessfully, I urged tonics, with small doses of 
 calomel ; as I thought an alterative plan had never been 
 fairly tried, and that we should then be able to form a 
 more decided opinion as to disease or not. Mr. S. at 
 last agreed ; and, as we had no other tonic than the 
 cheretta, I proposed a pint of that daily, hydr. sub. 
 gr. ^ extr. colocynth. c. grey pulv. ipecac, gr. at 
 night ; as I had observed, that the preceding two bad 
 nights, the bowels had not been regular. Since we 
 have begun the above remedies, I have of course 
 
 L 
 
88 APPENDIX. 
 
 watched Mr. Scott very carefully, and am happy 
 to say, he has not had one bad night since. His 
 appetite is good ; he drinks three or four glasses 
 of wine, daily ; has taken a good deal of exercise- 
 having been shooting almost every evening ; pulse 
 rather less, and not so full; the thrill, 1 thought 
 last night, for the first time, rather less than before ; and, 
 what I think a very good symptom was, that having had 
 information of a tiger the day before yesterday, we did 
 not return to dinner until past nine o^clock, whereas every 
 day previous we had dined at four : in consequence of 
 dining so late, Mr. S., when in bed, felt as if his dinner 
 disagreed with him, and feverish ; had a bad night, but 
 says that his heart did not trouble him once : when asleep, 
 he says, that he does not awake with the starting now ; 
 but will not allow that it is altogether gone ; but freely 
 acknowledges he is much better, and does not think so 
 much of his heart. At the former part of my letter, I 
 made use of the word luckily, and I will now tell you 
 why. Last night I went, as I usually do every second, or 
 third night, to use the stethoscope, and, to my surprise, Mr. 
 Scott called for something, which, when produced, turn- 
 ed out to be a tin stethoscope, so made, that he could use 
 it himself; however, he did not appear to hear more than 
 he expected, and, I rather hope, not so much ; for he has 
 had a good night, feels very comfortable, and is going on 
 with the cheretta. I can bring forward no argument, 
 that the whole of the servants have not brought against it, 
 as he has sounded every one of them. I am very san- 
 guine as to his recovery. You would oblige me very 
 much by giving me your candid opinion, as to whether 
 or not I am justified in pursuing my plan under existing 
 
APPENDIX. 89 
 
 circumstances. Of course I watch Mr. S. very narrow- 
 ly, and not the slightest symptom can pass unnoticed. 
 Query If disease really exists, by the plan now in prac- 
 tice, I am shortening Mr. Scott's days ; if those days are 
 made much more comfortable to his feeling, am I justi- 
 fied ? Most sincerely hoping that my next will be as favour- 
 able as the present one, with compliments to Mrs. Lamb, 
 I am, 
 
 My dear Sir, 
 
 Your's much obliged, 
 
 HENRY L. BEADON. 
 
 P. S. Should any thing in the smallest degree un- 
 favourable occur, you shall be immediately informed of it. 
 
 No. 8, 
 
 Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Singamaree, 8th May. 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 I HAVE given so many contradictory accounts of the 
 state of my health, that I have now delayed writing to 
 you, until I might ascertain whether the amendment that 
 took place after the despatch of my last letter, was likely to 
 prove at all permanent. Since the 16th ultimo, I have 
 not had a bad night, nor any starting of consequence ; 
 but, at the same time, I do not think that the palpita- 
 tion is much, if at all, abated ; nor is there any alteration 
 in the thrilling (I fancy) purring sensation, with which 
 it is attended. I have been taking bitters and alteratives, 
 and living well; going out also to shoot, occasionally, 
 from which I have not experienced any bad consequences. 
 Nevertheless, there is not so great an abatement of the 
 
 L 2 
 
90 APPENDIX. 
 
 chief symptom, as I experienced about the time I was 
 at Naraingong. Many thanks for the drawings, and 
 the promised oat seed. I never saw this lizard in 
 color it resembles the biskopra, but the latter has a short- 
 er tail, and is considered (I believe without foundation) 
 poisonous by the natives. We had a tremendous storm 
 of hail a few days ago ; which, if it extended so far, 
 must, I fear, have greatly injured your coffee crop. I 
 collected a sufficient quantity of the stones to enable me 
 to ascertain the rate at which ice melts ; and the result 
 leaves no doubt as to the feasibility of supplying Calcut- 
 ta from Churra Poonjee. The contents of a small buck- 
 ket, weighing about 141bs., and not exceeding eight or nine 
 inches in diameter, took about 40 hours to melt, so that 
 a mass of in every direction would not be entirely 
 consumed in less than about a month ; and, as the voyage 
 might, by proper means, be performed in fifteen days, a 
 sufficient portion of every cargo would reach the presi- 
 dency. We have been shooting tigers and rhinoceroses, 
 or, rather, shooting at the latter ; having seen six the day 
 before yesterday, and failed in killing even one. With 
 best regards to the Ladies, 
 
 I am, Your's very sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 P. S. I have not ventured to take (moogdur* ) exer- 
 cise yet, but have rode a good deal, slowly, without any 
 inconvenience. 
 
 D. S. 
 
 * This is an exercise common in India. It consists in throw- 
 ing the arms (with a short and very heavy club in each hand) 
 successively over the head and opposite shoulders. Its object is 
 to expand and strengthen the chestj and arms. ED. 
 
APPENDIX. 91 
 
 No. 9. 
 
 From Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Singamaree, Vfoth May. 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 A VERY favourable report having been made by Fisher 
 and Tucker on the country about Churra Poonjee, I am in 
 hopes, that Government will now take some decisive steps 
 for the establishment of a Sanatary ; and I have written 
 to recommend, that a Surgeon should be appointed to take 
 charge, and carry into effect whatever arrangements may 
 be necessary to render it speedily and extensively avail- 
 able to the public. Much will, however, depend upon 
 the person who may be appointed to superintend it, as 
 he must not only be of good medical repute, but also 
 capable of keeping the visitors, or their followers, in or- 
 der ; mediating any differences that may arise between 
 them and the fiery mountaineers ; and negociating 
 with the latter for lands, and privileges, and whatever 
 else may be required to give efficacy to the plan. Al- 
 though it is not probable, that you could be tempted to 
 leave your comfortable residence at Dacca for this untried 
 land ; yet, from what I have heard you say of the Jynteah 
 country, I think it is not altogether impossible that you 
 might be induced to undertake the duty, as a not unplea- 
 sant mode of passing the few years you mean to remain 
 in the country. In your hands, I know the experiment 
 would have a fair trial ; while, to lady visitors, Mrs. L.'s 
 presence would prove a powerful means of attraction ; 
 and probably soon collect all that seems wanting to render 
 the place a delectable residence, an agreeable society. 
 From Fisher's report, it appears that the difficulties of 
 
92 APPENDIX. 
 
 the ascent have been much exaggerated. He corrobo- 
 rates all that we heard of the climate and appearance of 
 the country. The height he makes 4,200 feet by the 
 barometer, and states the temperature of spring water 
 to be 58, or, I believe, only two degrees more than it is 
 in England. My best regards to the Ladies I continue 
 pretty well. 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 10. 
 
 Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Gowahatty, 30th August. 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 SINCE I last wrote you, I received a copy of Laennec's 
 book ; and agreeably to the plan of treatment laid down 
 there, 1 have been bled repeatedly, and am considerably 
 reduced, but without any amendment ; and, as Mr. Bea- 
 don seems now to be quite at a loss what course to pursue, 
 and rather consults my inclination than any fixed plan, 
 I should be glad to have your opinion on the sub- 
 ject. After an attentive perusal of Laennec's book, both 
 Mr. B. and myself agreed, as to the probability of the 
 disease being what he terms, a hypertrophy of the heart, 
 in all probability, conjoined, as seems often to be the case, 
 with a nervous affection of the same organ. The cat- 
 mutter is stated by Laennec to be a symptom of the one 
 as well as the other ; and it is, in my case, extended to 
 the arteries as well as the heart. There seems also to be no 
 doubt, that there is increased arterial action, depending, 
 
APPENDIX. 93 
 
 according to Laennec, upon a nervous affection ; and, where 
 this is the case, he says that bleeding is clearly indicated, 
 although, in other nervous cases, it may prove prejudicial. 
 The first effect of my bleeding 18 oz. was to raise the pulse 
 from 74 or 5 to 80, and this, more particularly, in the 
 morning, at the time when I used to feel, comparatively 
 speaking, quiet. I have since been bled three times, 
 to the same extent, without any considerable alteration, 
 except that the pulse feels not quite so strong, although more 
 frequent. It is now 90 when I go to bed, and 80 or 82 in 
 the morning, falling afterwards, when I sit up, to 7^ or 76. 
 I sleep, nevertheless, very well, sometimes with, and 
 sometimes without, digitalis. I have scarcely any appe- 
 tite, but digest what I do take very well. The thrill or 
 cat-mutter, below the left clavicle, and in the carotid 
 arteries, has, I think, become decidedly worse. The 
 sound of the heart, felt at the ribs, is much the same 
 as it was, and the thrill feels, as it were, higher up. Mr. 
 B. is evidently quite at a loss how to proceed. He, at 
 first, seemed to be convinced, that there was an organic 
 disease ; but he now, occasionally, seems to doubt it, 
 and, in fact, evidently does not know what to think. The 
 internal sensation of the thrill is becoming every day more 
 and more intense ; but, according to Laennec, this does 
 not necessarily imply organic lesion, and is, on the con- 
 trary, not uncommon in cases purely nervous. The 
 swelling in the legs, &c. has certainly not increased, since 
 I saw you ; but I so constantly keep them up, that it is 
 not easy to say what might be the case were I to neglect 
 this precaution. After the first two bleedings, I was a 
 good deal incommoded by the starting of which I com- 
 plained at Dacca ; but that has now very much dimi- 
 
94 APPENDIX. 
 
 nished, and it has not, at any time, been so bad as to 
 prevent my sleeping. The most marked new fact that 
 I have lately observed is, that there is a considerable 
 difference between the rate of the pulse in the recumbent 
 and sitting posture. This morning it fell from 84 to 78 ; 
 rose again, on lying down, to 82 ; fell, on sitting up, to 
 76 ; rose again to 80 or 82, and fell again to 76, all in 
 the course of an hour and a half what does this imply ? 
 The sensation of sleeping in the extremities, I still expe- 
 rience, if any slight and continued pressure happens to 
 be applied to a limb ; but it is by no means so common 
 as when I was at Dacca, and I sleep much better ; not 
 having had above two or three restless nights for the last 
 six weeks. Of wine I take one glass, and very little 
 meat, &c. Do you think I ought to proceed with the 
 bleeding plan or not ? The other I have tried, and al- 
 though I appeared somewhat better, at first, I derived 
 no ultimate benefit from it ; but, rather, got worse. Have 
 you got any account of Vasalva^s mode of treating aneu- 
 risms ? That is what Laennec recommends. We all 
 beg to be remembered to the Ladies. 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 11. 
 
 From Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Nunkhlow ,\kth April 
 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 I REGRET exceedingly to hear of the unfortunate com- 
 mencement and termination of your journey, from which 
 I sincerely hope that none of you will suffer any further 
 
APPENDIX. 95 
 
 bad effects. I very much fear, that the accounts I former- 
 ly sent you of there being no north-westers in the hills, 
 may have led you and Mrs. Lamb to go up worse pre- 
 pared than you would otherwise have done. The people 
 here and at Churra Poonjee were so positive on the 
 subject, that I could not help believing them ; although 
 I had myself experienced a squall on the inferior eleva- 
 tion of the Jynteah country. At this place it blows what 
 may be called a gale of wind, from W. S. W., very 
 similar to the hot winds up the country, but with the 
 agreeable difference of being quite cool and pleasant. I 
 have unfortunately broken my hygrometer, but you may 
 be able to form some judgment of the degree of moisture 
 in the atmosphere, from the fall, by evaporation, on wet- 
 ting the bulb of the ordinary thermometer, which is now 
 about four degrees. The thermometer itself stands, now 
 (2 P. M.) at 74 i n tne morning I did not observe it. 
 The sky is a fine clear blue, with a few small clouds 
 sailing away to the eastward. This appearance I have 
 observed since I have been in Assam, throughout the hot 
 weather ; all the clouds, at a great elevation, proceeding 
 to the eastward ; while those nearer the ground, and the 
 wind itself blowing, in exactly the contrary direction. The 
 circumstance of the wind being westerly is, I think, fa- 
 vourable to the salubrity of the climate ; at least so it 
 is thought in Hindoostan, notwithstanding the intolerable 
 heat with which it is generally accompanied. I have 
 written to Tucker about the road, on which head I would, 
 by no means, despair after what has been done in this 
 quarter. A secure and comfortable hut ought, however, 
 to be built at Churra, in the first instance ; for without 
 that, it is impossible for any one to set leisurely about 
 
 M 
 
yt) APPENDIX. 
 
 exploring a better route ; with a half-way house between 
 this and Churra Poonjee, the journey might very well be 
 performed in two days ; the direct distance being much 
 less than double what it is from this to the plain ; and 
 the ups and downs of the road infinitely less numerous. 
 If I were sure of good quarters at Churra Poonjee, I 
 would make arrangements to go over now ; but, without 
 a secure place to go into there, it would not answer. 
 Did you hear any thing about the cave which was said 
 to be on the top of the hill, and have you seen, or have 
 you any intention of again visiting, the one at Pandua ? 
 I have been requested by Mr. Swinton particularly, to 
 examine it for fossil bones ; which, indeed, I did, as far 
 as we went in 1824 ; but, if there is any thing of the sort, 
 I think it is most likely that they will be found at the 
 bottom of the deep pit, from which they could not well 
 be removed by the action of the water, that may be sup- 
 posed to have swept the part we examined. I wished, 
 much, amongst other matters, to know what you now 
 thought of my case. In point of general health, I am 
 tolerably well ; and I feel no incapacity for, nor any bad 
 effects from, exercise, however long continued, if not 
 attended with any considerable exertion. The cat-mut- 
 ter, however, continues, I think, to increase, and the 
 swelling in the legs is much the same. I have had a 
 seton in my breast for the last fortnight, from which 
 I have not experienced any sensible effects. The palpita- 
 tion is, upon the whole, somewhat less, but it is still quite 
 audible when I am in bed, and distinctly attended with 
 occasional throbs of increased force. The thrill I can 
 feel internally, which I do not recollect doing when I 
 saw you ; and it extends to other parts, particularly the 
 
APPENDIX. 97 
 
 thigh, when the leg is bent, and the artery probably 
 compressed. Have you seen, or would you like to see, 
 Laennec's book ? I can send it over from this. How 
 long do you propose remaining at Sylhet ? With best 
 regards to Mrs. Lamb, 
 
 Your's very sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 12. 
 
 From Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Nunkhlow, 23rd May. 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 I RETURNED yesterday from an expedition to Maplong, 
 situated 22 miles in advance of this place, on the way 
 to Churra Poonjee. It is considerably higher than this 
 place, about 12 or 1300 feet, making the total altitude 
 above Assam 5,500 by a good barometer. There are 
 some hills still higher, so that they must approach very 
 nearly to 6,000 feet above the sea, with which elevation 
 the temperature agreed very well ; the thermometer stands 
 at 58 in the morning, and 70 and 72, on two different days, 
 in the afternoon. From what I have now seen of the 
 road, I am satisfied, that, with proper preparations, Mrs. 
 Lamb could travel it with the greatest ease. I had no 
 occasion to dismount, except for about four yards, all 
 the way to Maplong ; and I rode back on the same 
 mule, in eight hours. I do not like the climate of Map- 
 long so well as this, judging from the part of three days 
 that we were there. It was close, and the heat of the 
 sun much less bearable than it is here, where there is 
 
 M 2 
 
98 APPENDIX. 
 
 almost always a fine breeze from the westward. This 
 difference is probably occasioned by the Burhampooter, 
 down the course of which an easterly wind almost always 
 blows at this season, for which a supply of air, by a con- 
 trary upper current, must be required. The country 
 after the first 10 or 12 miles is cleared of trees, and not 
 nearly so pretty as it is here ; but the slate cliffs, about 
 Maplong, are much grander than the Gowahatty hills of 
 this part; the former being very precipitous, and the 
 latter always round. Some evenings ago, after a shower 
 of rain, the scenery towards Assam was beautiful beyond 
 any thing we ever saw, or what, judging from its cold- 
 weather appearance, I c'ould have expected. We saw 
 the course of the Burhampooter for 90 miles downwards, 
 and about 40 upwards ; the view being there closed by 
 hills. The gradation of tints, from the rich velvet-green 
 of the hills, in our immediate neighbourhood, to the differ- 
 ent shades of those at various distances to 100 miles, was 
 most superb ; and I must re-call what I once, I think, 
 said, that Mrs. Lamb would be disappointed in the 
 scenery. I have settled with the people at Maplong, 
 about building a house, which will render the journey, 
 from Churra Poonjee, very easy. On horse-back it might 
 be travelled "to this place 11 in one day; but, supposing 
 Mrs. Lamb to use the tonjon* in bad places, and to 
 relive the bearers, by riding occasionally, she could 
 come at any time of the year, with great ease, in three 
 days ; or in two, by making a morning and an evening 
 stage from Maplong. We were very much gratified at 
 Maplong by seeing a Cassya dance. The costume was 
 most elegant ; and the dresses, considering the situation 
 * An open chair, with a hood, carried on men's shoulders. E 
 
APPENDIX. 99 
 
 of the parties, really splendid. I never saw any thing, in 
 the way of dress, off the stage, to be compared to it. 
 Campbell, from Sylhet, went back with us to Maplong, 
 and thence to C hurra Poonjee. After seeing our mules 
 and horses scramble over the worst parts of the road, he 
 altered his opinion, considerably, in respect to the portion 
 between Maplong and Churra, which he had previously 
 considered impassible without dismounting. The wea- 
 ther continues much the same. The thermometer is 
 higher in the morning, as much as 68, but it has never 
 risen in the house above 76 ; and owing to the fine breeze, 
 that is always blowing, it feels much cooler than it did at 
 Maplong. We have had very little rain, only three slight 
 showers, while they have been deluged in Assam. There 
 have been some loud claps of thunder, but nothing that 
 could be called a north-wester, or severe squall, from any 
 quarter. With best regards to the ladies, 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 13. 
 
 From Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, on the Burhampooter, 
 llth July, near Gowahatty. 
 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 I HAVE the pleasure to send, for comparison with your 
 register of the state of the wind, the account kept in this 
 quarter. There has been an unusual prevalence of wes- 
 terly wind for this season of the year, which is perhaps 
 an advantage, as it will more clearly shew whether or not 
 
100 APPENDIX. 
 
 there is any corresponding irregularity at Dacca. The 
 observations in May were made at Singamareej from the 
 8th of June to the 4th of this month., at Gowalpara ; and 
 subsequently, above it. The man has only put down 
 E. and W N. and S ; but generally speaking, the wind, 
 when from the former directions, blows due E. or W. as 
 it may be : when from the S. it is generally a little to the 
 eastward of it ; and when from the north, usually to the 
 westward. I hope you will observe, hourly, on the 17th of 
 this month ; which has been appointed for observation of 
 thermometer, barometer, hygrometer, and all the other 
 meters, all over the world. This intimation will, I fear, 
 prove too late ; but I hope you may have seen the notice in 
 Brewster's Journal. I continue in much the same state. 
 The thrilling, a little below the clavicle, is I think, if any 
 thing, increasing. My pulse has also, for some days 
 past, been quicker than formerly, having risen from 7^ 
 and 78 to 80 and 84 beats. I do not observe that there 
 is any corresponding increase in the violence of the pul- 
 sations. I have been taking blues and rhubarb for the 
 last week, with good effect, and this increase in the 
 pulse commenced about the same time ; but the dose is, 
 I think, insufficient to produce such an effect. I had 
 a slight attack of fever one night lately ; and, during it, 
 I felt, very plainly, how much I should suffer from a 
 fever ; the action of the heart being much increased, and 
 the starting, experienced when I first arrived at Dacca, 
 having returned. I do not observe much difference in 
 the state of my feet and legs ; but there is a decided 
 tendency to swell, slightly, when I remain in the perpen- 
 dicular position. My best regards to the ladies. Mrs. 
 G. will be surprised to learn, that Mr. S. has become a 
 
APPENDIX. 101 
 
 first rate performer at whist ; barring a revoke now and 
 then. 
 
 Your's very sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 P. S. My cow-boat was wrecked yesterday; and I 
 tried this morning a bottle of milk, prepared with (sugar?) 
 in the Lukeerja river, which was perfectly fresh, and, I 
 really think, not distinguishable, in coffee or tea, from new 
 milk. I observe that this mode of preserving milk is 
 noticed by Dr. Paris in his Pharmacologia. 
 
 No. 14. 
 
 From Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Gowahatty, I8th July, 
 
 1827. 
 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 I SHALL be happy to see Mr. Imlach, and to afford him 
 what aid I can. I should think indigo would thrive well, 
 as it is to be found growing wild almost every where. 
 The quantity of rain is, no doubt, considerable ; although 
 probably not more than is experienced about Cheelmaree, 
 and, in some parts of the Rungpore district, where indigo 
 thrives very well. The rivers, here, overflow much sooner 
 than in Bengal, and the cultivation of churs and low 
 lands would not, therefore, perhaps answer ; but there is 
 a great deal of high land, which is also much richer, if we 
 may judge from the color, than is usual in Bengal. There 
 would, no doubt, be a great difficulty in getting workmen 
 at first ; but that would probably wear off. It is the most 
 formidable objection, and would, I fear, more than counter- 
 
102 APPENDIX. 
 
 balance, at first, the superior facility of getting land. I 
 <io not get any better. The thrilling and cat-mutter 
 noise, appear to me to increase ; but I do not think that 
 the swelling of the legs does so, or, indeed, that it is more 
 now than it has been for several years. With best re- 
 spects to the Ladies, 
 
 Your's very sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 15. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, 
 Gowahatty, 18th July, 1827. 
 
 WE had some reason latterly to doubt the salubrity of 
 Nunkhlow, towards the end of May and beginning of June, 
 having almost all suffered more or less from slight bowel 
 complaints. The sickness amongst the servants was, also, 
 most alarming ; and this is a most serious drawback up- 
 on the advantages of a temporary residence at Nunkhlow. 
 The Bengalees say that they are not subject to the like 
 sickness at Churra Poonjee, which is reckoned by the 
 Cassyas, also., a healthier place than Nunkhlow. In the 
 case of our servants, the passage through the jungly tract 
 that occupies the first 25 miles of the road, may have some 
 effect. If Mr. Fenwick could be set up at Churra, I 
 would undertake to make the road passible for tonjons, 
 if not horses, by means of a party of Assamese convicts ; 
 and, with proper bearers, I cannot think that much 
 difficulty would be experienced in getting up. The low 
 country bearers would never answer, unless they had pre- 
 viously been broken in to hill-work ; but I have no doubt 
 
APPENDIX. 103 
 
 that the Cassyas themselves, would soon learn to carry a 
 double-poled tonjon ; if not on their shoulders, slung in 
 their own way, over the head. We had this time the 
 means of ascertaining the elevation, which is more consi- 
 derable than I supposed. Jones thinks that the country 
 about Nurtung is as high as at Nunkhlow ; when I 
 crossed over that way, I only estimated it at about 2,000 
 feet, but I now think I must have been wrong, and I 
 could not, indeed, at the time, account for the great 
 change of temperature at so small an elevation. I send 
 you a section of the Nunkhlow and Churra route, and 
 some observations of the thermometer, barometer, Sec. 
 We have had a great deal of rain here, and the river is 
 unusually high. With best regards to the Ladies, 
 
 Your's very sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 P. S. I have just received some potatoe apples from 
 Nunkhlow. This crop was very luxuriant, when I left 
 it, 23rd of last month ; but pease, cauliflowers, &c. did 
 not thrive. 
 
 No. 16. 
 
 From Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Gowahatty, 6th August. 
 
 Mr DEAR LAMB, 
 
 I WILL, hereafter, give you a statement of the weather, 
 and of the fall of rain on the hills, and below. As yet 
 there does not seem to be much difference in the quantity. 
 To obtain a chart of the wind, it would be necessary 
 
 N 
 
104 APPENDIX. 
 
 that many observers should be employed at distant points. 
 It would, perhaps, be possible to effect it, if the atten- 
 tion of the Scientific Committee of the Asiatic Society were 
 attracted to the subject. From what I have observed 
 here, and up the country, I should conjecture, that in 
 the hot weather, there are two great currents of air in the 
 Bengal valley, one flowing down the course of the Jumna 
 and Ganges, chiefly to the south of the latter river, after 
 it is joined by the Dewa ; and another rising about Sud- 
 deeya, which, after accompanying the Burhampooter, as 
 far as its course is westerly, there leaves it, and blows up 
 along the bottom of the northern mountains and the ad- 
 joining districts. We have here a counter-current above, 
 from the westward, which we get into going to Nunkh- 
 low, generally at an elevation of about 2,500 feet. My 
 best regards to Mrs. Lamb. 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 17. 
 Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb not dated. 
 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 ALTHOUGH I am very desirous of proceeding to Calcut- 
 ta, the urgency of my business there is not, however, so 
 great as to induce me to go, should you think it likely 
 to prove injurious to my health ; and I should therefore 
 be glad to know your opinion on this head ; and, also, 
 whether you think it likely that any benefit would be 
 derived from a voyage to sea, or residence in a colder 
 climate. Although I do not think that too much atten- 
 
APPENDIX. 105 
 
 tion to business has been the cause of this illness, as I 
 never found myself fatigued, or otherwise affected by it 
 at the time ; I may as well mention, that, before the 
 accession of the present fit, and, also, of the one I ex- 
 perienced in February, last year, I had been much occu- 
 pied in court, for several months, usually going at seven 
 in the morning, and, with exception to an hour or two 
 at breakfast, sitting till sun-set. I do not think I men- 
 tioned to you that I had for two years past been subject 
 to a pain in the stomach, which usually came on after 
 breakfast. I have not had many attacks of it of late, 
 owing I believe to a change of diet, but I still feel it 
 occasionally. The medicine you gave me last night had a 
 soothing effect, and lessened the palpitation, I think per- 
 ceptibly ; but it returned after I awoke in the morning. 
 Do you think that distress of mind can have any consi- 
 derable effect in a case of this kind* ? 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 18. 
 
 Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Gowalparah, 30th March. 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 I AM very sorry to say that poor Leslie is laid up with 
 a dreadful jungle fever, which has now been on him, with 
 
 * I had strongly urged Mr. Scott, for a year or more before 
 his death, to visit the Cape, and eventually England ; but the 
 discomforts of a ship, and, I believe, an internal conviction that 
 it would prove unavailing, always deterred him from adopting the 
 suggestion. ED. 
 
 N 2 
 
106 APPENDIX. 
 
 some slight intermissions, for ten days. Mr. Hartt, most 
 fortunately, arrived about five days ago previously to 
 which he had prescribed for himself, and taken very little 
 calomel. He requested me to-day to write you about your 
 concern at Gowahatty, but I could scarcely make out 
 what he said. I enclose an ur%ee from your gomashta, to 
 whom, or to me, pray write. Leslie wishes to go down 
 the river to Dacca, and eventually to England ; but Mr. 
 Hartt says,, that he cannot be moved at present, or in less 
 than four or five days, if he recover, of which Mr. H. 
 seems very doubtful. The fever was brought on by ex- 
 posure in preparing the skins of two rhinoceroses killed 
 near this. 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 19. 
 
 Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Gowalparah, SQth March, 
 10 P. M. 
 
 I AM truly grieved to inform you, that poor Leslie has 
 just expired. He appeared better in the evening than 
 he had hitherto been, and was free from fever ; and al- 
 though exceedingly weak, Mr. H. entertained strong 
 hopes of his recovery : but a sudden change for the 
 worse took place an hour ago. 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
APPENDIX. 107 
 
 No. 20. 
 Sir Henry Hal ford's opinion of Mr. Scott's case. 
 
 AFTER a careful perusal of Mr. Beadon's statement, 
 and after paying the strictest attention to the account of 
 the case drawn up by Mr. Scott himself, (who appears to 
 have observed closely the symptoms of his disorder, and 
 has described his sensations in a very striking and accu- 
 rate manner,) I find it impossible not to arrive at the 
 conclusion^ (hat, to a certain extent, there does exist in 
 this case an organic affection within the chest. Of the 
 exact nature of this affection it is difficult to speak in 
 precise and definite terms ; but it seems that its com- 
 mencement may be traced to the rheumatic attack which 
 occurred in 1824 ; which attack is said to have left him 
 rather suddenly ; and, it is under such circumstances, 
 that external inflammation is found to be extended most 
 frequently to internal organs. At the same time, it is not 
 improbable that, in Mr. Scott's case, there may have 
 always been a tendency to some irregularity in the action 
 of the heart and arteries, of that kind which may be 
 properly called nervous : and that such constitutional 
 tendency to functional derangement may have acted as a 
 predisposing cause, and may have led the way to an 
 organic affection of the heart. 
 
 There is reason to believe that the alteration of struc- 
 ture, which has taken place, consists in an enlargement of 
 the heart and large vessels, arising from it. The symp- 
 toms described, namely, the shortness of breath, the thrill 
 felt chiefly under the left clavicle, the crepitous noise in 
 
108 APPENDIX. 
 
 the windpipe, and the " bruit de soufflet," attending the 
 action of the heart, all give probability to such a supposi- 
 tion. 
 
 The plan that I should advise, under such circumstan- 
 ces, is not to attempt to cure the disorder by starvation 
 and copious depletion, which would too much reduce the 
 patient's strength, and render his nervous system more 
 irritable than before : indeed this mode of treatment has 
 been tried already, and has been found to fail. All that 
 should be done, in the way of depletion, should be to 
 relieve the labouring organ by the occasional detraction of 
 three or four ounces, only, of blood. For which pur- 
 pose six leeches should be applied occasionally to the 
 region of the heart ; after which its inordinate action may 
 be moderated by the application, to the same region, of a 
 quieting plaster, consisting of equal parts of extract of 
 Belladonna and soap cerate, which should be worn there 
 constantly. With the same view of controlling the heart's 
 action, and of soothing the general system, a pill com- 
 posed of three or four grains of the extract of conium and 
 half a grain of the powder of digitalis may be taken three 
 times a day, and washed down by a light tonic, such as 
 a draught containing twelve drops of the dilute sulphuric 
 acid, and twenty-five drops of the compound spirit of 
 aether, in an ounce and half of infusion of cascarilla, or 
 any other light tonic bitter. 
 
 The system here recommended should not be continued 
 for more than ten days at a time ; after which it may be 
 intermitted for a period, and resumed again if found to be 
 satisfactory. 
 
APPENDIX. 109 
 
 With respect to the bowels, all that is required, is to 
 keep them comfortable by the occasional administration 
 of some gentle aperient, the object being only to remove 
 a source of irritation, and not to make a vain attempt to 
 cure the disorder by such means. 
 
 Meanwhile, the patient's strength should be supported 
 by a diet, not indeed too full, but sufficiently good and 
 regular ; and a moderate quantity of wine may be allowed. 
 
 It is highly important for him to enjoy as much quiet 
 of mind, and repose of body, as it is possible for him, un- 
 der the circumstances of his life, to command. 
 
 (Signed) HENRY HALFORD. 
 
 No. 21. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, IQth 
 
 February. 
 
 MY palpitation has been much diminished for the last 
 fortnight or three weeks, but the cat-mutter, although 
 fainter, continues equally perceptible and distinct. I 
 have, of course, often thought of a voyage to sea, but the 
 expence, discomfort, and inconvenience make me loath to 
 undertake it, where the chance of benefit is so small; for I 
 cannot now doubt that some structural change has taken 
 place in the heart, however it may have commenced. Of 
 this the stethescope seems to afford ample proof. With 
 best regards to Mrs. Lamb. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT. 
 
110 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 22. 
 
 Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Churra Poonjee, IQth April 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 You will in all probability have heard, via Assam, of 
 the melancholy fate of Lieutenants Bedingfeld arid Burl- 
 ton, who, together with the greater part of our servants 
 and followers, were attacked, and murdered, by the Cas- 
 syas, on the 4th or 5th. I left them on the 1st, as it was 
 supposed, in perfect security, and arrived here on the 2nd. 
 We had some conversation, on the road, with the people 
 of Lungburree, who had, the day before, detained our 
 coolies, and taken some things from them. After our 
 arrival here, we received no daks, and, for some days, 
 attributed it to the Lungburree people, until three days 
 ago, when a report began to prevail that the whole party 
 at Nunkhlow had been cut off. As yet we have not been 
 able to get hold of any one who has actually been at the 
 place, but all accounts concurring, as to the main facts, I 
 fear no reasonable hope can be entertained of the safety 
 of our poor friends. The conduct of the Rajah is quite 
 inexplicable ; and, I suppose, it must lead to the ulti- 
 mate occupation of his country. The people here have 
 behaved in the most friendly manner, and are, to all ap- 
 pearance, sincere ; but I fear, that this melancholy termi- 
 nation of our Assam Sanatarium may induce Government 
 to suspend proceedings here also ; and it must, at all 
 events, have the effect of deterring ladies from visiting the 
 place. Mrs. Campbell has just left us. We were in 
 some alarm last night, an attack being expected by the 
 people of the village ; but we shall have a party of forty 
 men by this evening, and may then bid them defiance. 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
APPENDIX. Ill 
 
 No. 23. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Mr. Scott, dated Gowalparah, 
 28th April, 1831, to Lieut. H. Vetch, of the Assam 
 Light Infantry. 
 
 I HAVE been sadly grieved and shocked by the distress- 
 ing intelligence of poor Brodie's death. I have only heard 
 from Mirza, that he was brought in, ill of a fever, on the 
 20th, and died on the 23rd. I did every thing in my 
 power to prevent him from exposing himself in the jungles 
 of the lower hills ; and, when poor Leslie died, I wrote 
 again, to entreat that he would stay above, and send 
 down the peons and sebundies to scour the country be- 
 low ; but it was all in vain, and, from his long silence, after 
 being down at the Loabhee Dower, I began to have fore- 
 bodings that all was not right, although I had little 
 apprehension that my worst fears would be so soon con- 
 firmed. It is impossible for any European to stand that 
 climate at this season of the year. I well knew that 
 although I might, and did, give him advice, he would 
 not follow it, when there was any thing to do. It is a 
 grievous thing to lose such a promising young officer, in 
 such a way. With his handful of Cassyas he had reduced 
 nearly the whole of the chiefs between Murrow and 
 Loabhee in the course of a fortnight, and would, I have 
 no doubt, soon have settled matters in that direction. 
 
 I think it is probable, that poor Erodie's death will 
 produce some further commotion. It is a sad, and 
 almost an irreparable loss, in one point of view, viz. the 
 establishment and improvement of the Cassya corps and 
 company. Such a rare union of personal activity, energy, 
 
 o 
 
112 APPENDIX. 
 
 and enthusiasm, in favor of the mountaineers, will not 
 easily be found again, in an officer, to whom it could be 
 made any object, to accept of such a paltry command. 
 What a sad thing it is to think, that, that horrible jungle- 
 fever should, in so short a Space, have destroyed two 
 such esteemed friends and valuable men in their respec- 
 tive departments, as we have lately lost ! Climate, alone, 
 seems insufficient, in general; but, if assisted by expo- 
 sure, it soon shews its deadly nature. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 24. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, 
 Gowalparah, 23rd April. 
 
 I HAVE heard nothing more of your report upon the 
 Government jail. The prisoners have lost the best 
 friend they were ever likely to have in poor Leslie, who 
 took a deep interest in their welfare; but I fear their case 
 is beyond the hope of remedy by medical means, the last 
 half-yearly report exhibiting a total of 97 deaths, not- 
 withstanding all the Care and attention bestowed upon 
 the sick. I am much obliged to you for the vaccine 
 scales, but we have not yet been able to establish the dis- 
 ease. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT. 
 
APPENDIX. 113 
 
 No. 25. 
 
 From Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Myrung, 6th May. 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 WE took possession of Nunkhlow on the 2nd, having 
 met with nothing worthy of the name of resistance through- 
 out the campaign. Teerut is running about from village 
 to village, seldom sleeping twice in the same place, and 
 in some danger of being killed or taken by his own peo- 
 ple; who are heartily sick of fighting, and very anxious 
 to get out of the scrape into which he has brought them. 
 I have learnt little, in addition to the original report, of 
 the particulars of the death of our poor friends. Beding- 
 field was decoyed out of the house and cut down, and 
 Burlton had nearly made good his retreat to Assam, when 
 an unfortunate fall of rain gave the archers an advantage, 
 when the party dispersed, and he also was killed in the 
 jungles. I never could have expected Teerut Sing to act 
 so mad a part ; and regret extremely that he did not try 
 it before I and Beadon left the place, as I am perfectly 
 satisfied, from what I have since seen of Cassya tactics, 
 that, with our fowling pieces, alone, and without the aid 
 of the 15 sepahees who accompanied as to Churra, we 
 could have defeated Teerut's gang, and burnt every 
 village in the country. More arrant cowards, after all their 
 boasting, I never saw, nor a country in which the bow 
 
 v\j-<^v- . . 
 
 and arrow ..JMMK so entirely useless, when opposed to 
 fire arms. The only places in which they can fight are 
 holes under the rocks, from one of which Captain Lister 
 unfortunately got rather badly wounded on the 1st; a 
 barbed arrow having passed through his thigh, and nar- 
 rowly missed, dividing the femoral artery. After this 
 
 o 2 
 
114 APPENDIX. 
 
 campaign, we shall hear no more of the military propen- 
 sities of these mountaineers. They had a lesson, long 
 ago, on the plains, but still had the folly to suppose 
 themselves invincible in the hills ; where, in reality, as 
 compared with the low lands, the chances are five to one 
 in our favour ; both from the open nature of the country 
 and the superior salubrity of the climate. Out of this 
 detachment, consisting of about 200 men, and which has 
 been out, working hard, and much exposed to rain, since 
 the 12th, there are now 18 sick, of whom 5 have sore 
 feet, 2 fevers, and 3 bowel complaints. With best regards 
 to the Ladies, 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 26. 
 Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Naugundee, 21 st May. 
 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 I GRIEVE to say, that I have little or no hopes of the 
 recovery of our poor friend Beadon, who received a 
 most severe wound, yesterday, from an arrow, which has 
 penetrated the nose, leaving the barb somewhere above 
 the roof of the mouth. He immediately lost the use of 
 the left arm and leg : and complains of such intense pain 
 in the head, that I do not think that he can survive until 
 the doctor arrives ; and, even then, I know not what can 
 be done to relieve him ; the barb being, apparently, out 
 of the reach of any instrument, and buried amongst 
 bones. --------------- 
 
 . - - We met with some opposition, in taking this 
 place, which is situated in the midst of a chaos of 
 
APPENDIX. 115 
 
 enormous boulders, jumbled together, in such a way, as 
 to leave passages under them, from which the Cassyas 
 discharge their arrows with perfect security. This is a 
 very fine part of the country, quite level enough for the 
 use of the plough, and already productive of rice, Indian 
 corn, &c. to which I have little doubt, that wheat, bar- 
 ley, and other grain may soon be added. It is elevated 
 nearly 1COO feet, and there seem to be none of those 
 mists so prevalent at Churra and Nunkhlow, owing to 
 the proximity of the plains. Could you oblige me by 
 sending up, in a small boat, to Pundua, three or four 
 maunds of fresh wheat, for seed, and the same quantity 
 of barley, oats, boot-gram, making up the remainder of 
 the cargo with potatoes, and any thing that Mr. Mas- 
 carenhas or Callogreed may have for me. 
 
 Your*s sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 27. 
 
 Extract from Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Myrung, 
 
 May. 
 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 I AM sorry to say that poor Beadon still continues in 
 a dangerous state. Mr. Furnell yesterday laid open the 
 wound ; but, although he got firm hold of the barb with 
 a forceps, it was found impossible to extract it, or to do 
 more than move it back about half an inch ; which may, 
 
116 APPENDIX. 
 
 however, be of some use in removing pressure from the 
 nerves*. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 28. 
 
 Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, (Extract,) Myrung, 10th 
 
 June. 
 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 I AM sorry to hear that my order for a leather jacket 
 should have travelled so far. I never expose myself to 
 any unnecessary danger, and I remonstrated, repeatedly, 
 with poor Beadon on the subject ; but, as you may 
 suppose, he was enraged at the cruelty of these Nunkhlow 
 traitors, and bent upon revenge. Without, however, 
 going into battle a person may be shot at, on the high- 
 way, although nothing of the kind has hitherto occur- 
 red. The water-falls at this place are now, as you may 
 suppose, in all their glory. I was surprised at the height ; 
 I had conjectured, that it might be 500 feet ; but on a 
 careful comparison with a horizontal line of apparently 
 equal length with the perpendicular one, 1 find it to be 
 more than 1 ,000. I do not think we can be mistaken 
 to a greater extent than a tenth, or twentieth, of the 
 whole, and the measurement would make it nearer 1,200 
 
 * It is impossible to contemplate the tragical fate of this 
 unfortunate gentleman, as mentioned in the only two notices we 
 meet with regarding it, in Mr. Scott's letters to Mr. Lamb, 
 without the deepest feelings of commisseration. ED, 
 
APPENDIX. 117 
 
 than 1,000. Did Mrs. Lamb take a sketch of these 
 falls ? 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT. 
 
 P. S. We have had almost incessant rain and mists 
 here since the 28th. This is a great drawback on the 
 climate of the place, but it does not seem to render it 
 unhealthy, and of about 100 men, there are but four sick 
 with fevers and bowel complaints. The quantity of rain 
 that falls here in April and May, must be at least ten 
 times as much as they have at Nunkhlow, and yet there 
 can be no question of this being an infinitely more salu- 
 brious place. 
 
 No. 29. 
 
 (Extract.) Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, 2nd September. 
 
 CAPTAIN Lister has just gone back to Sylhet, after tak- 
 ing several stockades between this and Cheylee, which 
 the people had been suffered to retain, in hopes of their 
 coming to terms, when they saw the inutility of resistance, 
 without its being necessary to proceed to extremities 
 against them. In this, however, we were disappointed ; 
 and, after talking and writing to them, for three months, 
 it became necessary to dislodge them, which was done 
 with the loss of a few men wounded by ponjees, and one 
 by an arrow. They are, without exception, the worst 
 hands at fighting that we have had to deal with, making 
 no serious defence, although entrenched in such a way 
 as to be abmost unassailable by our present means, if 
 they would only remain under cover. Their most formi- 
 
118 APPENDIX. 
 
 dable weapon is the ponjee, by which a great number of 
 men have been wounded, but none so badly as happened 
 from the Burmese ponjees. My palpitation has perhaps 
 decreased a little, but it is but very little. The cat- 
 mutter becomes, I think, more and more perceptible, and 
 can be distinctly felt outside of my cloths. I have given 
 
 up the use of in consequence of its producing a 
 
 severe pain resembling lumbago, which continued for 
 upwards of a fortnight. This occurred twice, and ap- 
 peared distinctly to follow its use. This complaint is of 
 very long standing, and I recollect suspecting that I had 
 it more than 20 years ago. With best regards to the 
 Ladies. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT, 
 
 No. 30. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Mr. Scott to Lieut. Vetch, dated 
 2nd June, 1831. 
 
 I HAVE been very unwell for the last month, and I am 
 afraid my disorder is now going to progress in good ear- 
 nest. I can neither breathe, sleep, nor eat ; being affected 
 by frequent sickness at stomach. I am going to try the 
 hills once more but you must not be surprised if you 
 hear that I have taken a place beside our poor friends on 
 the Ostrich Hill*. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT. 
 
 See No. 
 
 ;* 
 
APPENDIX. 119 
 
 No. 31. 
 
 (Extract.) From Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Kunumookh, 
 ^th June, 1831. 
 
 MANY thanks for the vaccine scales. Do not send 
 any more, as we have established the disease at Gowal- 
 parah. I have been exceedingly unwell for the last month, 
 and am now going to try the mountain air. All the 
 symptoms of my disorder have been much increased, 
 and I have suffered from frequent or rather constant 
 sickness at stomach. I took an over dose of hydrocy- 
 anic acid, led away by the good effects it appear- 
 ed to have in quieting the palpitation ; and, supposing 
 that it might have been weakened by the phial having 
 been previously opened. It produced effects not unlike 
 those following a debauch, and the other symptoms 
 supervened ; but, whether owing to the acid, or the pro- 
 gress of my complaint, I know not. The diuretics I have 
 taken have had no effect ; they may perhaps answer 
 better when I get into a colder climate. Mr. Hartt 
 wishes me to go to sea but it would be too inconvenient. 
 With best regards to Mrs. Lamb. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 32. 
 
 Mr. Rhodes to Mr. Scott. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 I HAVE just received your letter of the 18th of June, 
 and lose no time in answering it. I have considered the 
 symptoms therein stated with care and anxiety ; and 
 
 p 
 
120 APPENDIX. 
 
 have endeavoured, as much as possible, to recollect all 
 the points your case shewed when I saw you at Churra. 
 The first conclusion I came to, and which I still consider 
 as the best, is, that you should, if possible, come over 
 here immediately. I know that you are so well acquaint- 
 ed with the nature of your complaint, that I shall not 
 add to your alarm by stating, that I consider it of so 
 much danger, that you ought never to be without a 
 Surgeon. Your letter states, that your ailment has great- 
 ly increased within the last six weeks ; that you breathe 
 with more difficulty, and are constantly sick at stomach. 
 This leads me to suppose that your aorta has lately 
 enlarged; (I considered at Churra, that in addition to 
 ossification, there was aneurismal enlargement of the 
 aorta :) should this be the case, the symptoms would be 
 great oppression in your breathing, from this tumour 
 pressing upon, and interrupting the action of, the lungs ; 
 and if the enlargement is on the back part of the vessel, 
 it would, by pressing upon the trachea, resophagus, and 
 nerves, give rise to a sense of suffocation and irritation 
 of the stomach. These circumstances, combined with 
 an irregular circulation of the blood downwards, and its 
 impaired decarbonization, in its passage through the 
 lungs, must necessarily produce dropsical effusions and 
 debility. The is another symptom of great weak- 
 ness, and of the inefficient state of the blood to produce 
 the accustomed secretions. The increased pulsations over 
 the whole frame are in consequence of the additional 
 efforts of the heart to propel the blood through the sys- 
 tem : having lost the assistance of the large aorta, and 
 being also loaded with blood ; and the whole circulation is 
 called into increased action, to assist the labouring organ. 
 
APPENDIX. 121 
 
 If you have been at all feverish, the deposite you mention 
 is of no consequence, such an appearance being frequent 
 both during and at the favourable termination of fever. 
 The I think an advantage, nature often reliev- 
 ing dropsical effusions in this way : but should it add 
 greatly to your debility, it must be checked by 
 opiates of chalk and ipecacuanha, occasionally tak- 
 ing a little rhubarb and magnesia. The most per- 
 fect rest is most essential, with a complete intermission 
 of all business, and causes of anxiety. Bleeding might 
 be attended with advantage, the point being to check and 
 lower the circulation but, since I cannot tell, from 
 your letter, the extent to which the disease has gone, or 
 your debility, I shall recommend the following treatment : 
 I send some pills, and wish you to take one night and 
 morning they are principally composed of blue pill 
 and squills, and will, I trust, produce perspiration, and an 
 
 increased I send half the digitalis that I have in 
 
 store, but hope you may have some left that you took 
 from here. I have sent to Sylhet for more, and will for- 
 ward it if you do not come over. Campbell, who is here 
 very ill, is taking this medicine, or would have sent more. 
 The mode of prescribing the tincture is to take 10 
 drops every three hours, until there is some sensible effect 
 on the pulse ; and then, by increasing, or diminishing, 
 the quantity, keep the circulation as slow as possible. 
 Nausea, with an intermitting, or very low, pulse, with 
 coldness of the extremities, will warn you when to leave 
 off; and any strong stimulant will relieve these symp- 
 toms, if, by any chance, you may have taken too much 
 digitalis. Besides lowering the pulse, the medicine will 
 also assist greatly in reducing the swelling in your legs. 
 
 p 2 
 
122 APPENDIX. 
 
 A hot foot-bath, with a handful of salt in it, will also do 
 good. For your accommodation at Churra you need be 
 under no apprehension, there being a large house of Mr. 
 Turquand's here empty ; and, if you consider mine more 
 comfortable and convenient, I hope you will come here 
 at once, if you are capable of the exertion ; or, if you 
 will send me an order, I will come over to Nunkhlow im- 
 mediately. The quantity of tincture of digitalis, that 
 I have ordered, is much less than you took whilst here. 
 I wish you to take as much as the system will bear. I 
 do not recommend opium at night, if it can be done 
 without ; but, if from pain, or restlessness, you are 
 obliged to take it, I think that large doses would answer 
 better than small, not being so likely to excite without 
 producing sleep. 
 
 I remain, 
 
 My dear Sir, 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 WM. RHODES. 
 Churra, 2Qth June, 7 A. M. 
 
 No. 33. 
 
 (Extract.) Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Churra Poonjee, 
 16th July. 
 
 I HAVE been here since the 7th or 8th, but make little 
 or no progress either one way or the other. My legs 
 &c. are very much swelled, and I have symptoms of 
 jaundice. The difficulty of breathing is much less, and 
 I can now sleep at night ; but I am still subject to sick- 
 ness at stomach, and have little or no appetite. Nicolson 
 
APPENDIX. 123 
 
 wants me to go to sea immediately ; it would be very 
 inconvenient just now : and I am afraid, he has forgotten 
 the fragile state of my heart, and looks only to the more 
 recent symptoms. Mr. Rhodes is still confined to his 
 bed. He has suffered dreadfully from pain, and inability, 
 to this day, and for the last three weeks, even to turn 
 himself in bed. 
 
 (Signed) D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 34. 
 
 Mr. Scott to Mr. Lamb, Churra, V\.th August. 
 MY DEAR LAMB, 
 
 HAVE you, or could you procure for me, a small quan- 
 tity of the acetate of morphium ? I am obliged to take 
 laudanum every night, and the above is recommended 
 instead. There is little alteration in my case, since I 
 came here. My legs are as much swelled as ever, the 
 difficulty of breathing much the same, and I am, if any 
 
 thing, weaker. I shall write to about the house, 
 
 and he has already an excellent correspondent in Major 
 Watson, who must, after all, do the needful. 
 
 Your's sincerely, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 35. 
 
 Letter from Lieut. H. Vetch, of the Assam Light Infan- 
 try, to Col. Arch. Watson. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 MANY thanks for your kind letter of the 3rd instant, 
 and for returning the letters of our lamented friend. 
 
124 APPENDIX. 
 
 Major White being, at present, on a tour to Suddeah, 
 and not likely to return for some time, I shall take the 
 liberty of answering your questions to him, being acquaint- 
 ed with the particulars : (i. e.) our poor friend saying in 
 his letter that I need " not be surprised to hear of his 
 taking up a place on the Ostrich Hill," alludes to a beau- 
 tiful green hill so named from the singular resemblance 
 to that bird of a solitary tree near its top. This hill, from 
 the noble prospect it commands, was a favourite spot with 
 all who visited the place, in its more peaceful and hap- 
 pier days ; but particularly with Lieut. Bedingfield, who, 
 on his last visit, seemed to have a presentiment that he 
 would die there, and begged Dr. Beadon that he should 
 be buried on the summit of the " Ostrich Hill." From 
 the, by no means dangerous, nature of Lieut. B.'s illness, 
 and the great benefit his health was deriving from the 
 climate, Dr. B. as little anticipated Bedingfield's death 
 from disease, as he could the cruel and treacherous act 
 that so soon fulfilled his melancholy forebodings. 
 
 On the retaking of the place, his wish was complied 
 with, and the mangled remains of himself and Lieut. 
 Burlton were collected and buried, in one grave, in the 
 caves on its top. These two officers were like brothers 
 to each other, both noble fellows, beloved by all who 
 knew them, and as much attached to Mr. Scott as he was 
 to them. 
 
 Believe me, 
 Dear Sir, 
 Your's very sincerely, 
 
 HAMILTON VETCH. 
 Jorehaut, 30th March? 1831. 
 
APPENDIX. 125 
 
 No. 36. 
 
 On the 25th of the same month (August) the following 
 Notice of Mr. Scotfs illness appeared in the Cal- 
 cutta " East Indian" Newspaper: 
 
 BY private letters from Churra Poonjee, we are inform- 
 ed of the serious illness of David Scott, Esq. Political 
 Agent and Commissioner at Assam. He is an indefati- 
 gable and most useful servant of Government ; and it will 
 be a great misfortune to the country, should he not live 
 to witness the accomplishment of the many plans of pub- 
 lic utility which he has, under the sanction of Government, 
 undertaken. It was owing to his recommendation to Go- 
 vernment that the invalid establishment now erecting at 
 the station was commenced", and it will require, we learn, 
 a person of his peculiar qualifications to effect its comple- 
 tion. Ever since his appointment to the political agency 
 of the north-east frontier, Mr. Scott has been most assi- 
 duous in introducing improvements in the agriculture and 
 manufactures of those parts ; and there prevails, adds our 
 correspondent, but one opinion, among the Natives, respect- 
 ing his character and abilities East Indian. 
 
 Subsequently to the foregoing, the following notices 
 appeared in the different Newspapers at the Presidency. 
 
 No. 37. 
 
 From the Calcutta John Bull, 27 th August. 
 IN our paper of yesterday we gave insertion to a para- 
 graph from a contemporary journal, in which the illness 
 of David Scott, Esq. the Political Agent and Commis- 
 
126 APPENDIX. 
 
 sioner at Assam, is represented to be of a seriously 
 alarming character. A near relation of that gentleman, 
 residing in Calcutta, has favored us with the perusal of 
 a letter from him of a very recent date (the l<kh August), 
 which we are happy to say is written in a tone of cheer- 
 fulness in every way calculated to allay the apprehen- 
 sions which, we fear, may, by the paragraph in question, 
 have been excited in the minds of Mr. Scott's numerous 
 friends in Bengal, as to the dangerous state of the malady 
 under which he has, for some years, been occasionally 
 suffering. We sincerely trust, and from his own descrip- 
 tion of his disorder, we may indeed venture to hope, that 
 he may yet live " novem addere lustris altera lustra 
 novem." Calcutta John Bull. 
 
 The letter from Mr. Scott, mentioned in the above, was 
 written in so cheerful a strain, with reference to his ill- 
 ness, as not to afford the slightest cause for immediate 
 alarm. In this persuasion it was forwarded immediately 
 to Mr. Scott's brother in England. 
 
 But, alas ! these hopes soon proved to have been 
 unfounded, and the following appeared in the India 
 Gazette of the 30th. 
 
 No. 38. 
 David Scott, Esq. 
 
 WE regret to state, that a communication has been 
 received in Calcutta, announcing the death of David 
 
APPENDIX. 127 
 
 Scott, Esq. the Political Agent and Commissioner at 
 Assam. The event took place at Churra Poonjee on 
 the 20th instant. Mr. Scott was a most zealous, faithful, 
 and intelligent public servant, and his death will be felt 
 as a very great loss to the Government and to the com- 
 munity. INDIA GAZETTE. 
 
 No. 39. 
 
 From the Bengal Hurkara and Chronicle, 15th Sep- 
 tember. 
 
 THE LATE MR. SCOTT. 
 
 (From a Correspondent.) 
 
 MR. Scott was eminently the friend of the Natives. 
 Myself an enthusiast in their cause, I cannot allow the 
 occasion of his death to pass without a humble tribute of 
 sorrowing applause to the character of one, who, to the 
 sharpest and brightest intellect, added a winning simpli- 
 city of character, combined with a benignity so deep and 
 searching, as to be appreciable only by those, who, with- 
 in the sphere, or neighbourhood, of his vocations, can 
 bear testimony to the great extent of his charity and the 
 singleness of his purpose in every thing he undertook. 
 The alloy of worldly pride and ambition, allied to per- 
 sonal motives, were unknown in the character of the 
 deceased. It may be truly said, " Mark the perfect 
 man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is 
 peace." In this gifted and virtuous man, distinguished 
 as he was by the most pure and exalted philanthropy, 
 the natives at large, have lost one of their most powerful 
 and able advocates ; the poor, a friend whose charities 
 
128 APPENDIX. 
 
 were boundless ; charities exercised in remote and dis- 
 tant wilds, where no motive of worldly pride could have 
 entered into their constant and never-ceasing flow. The 
 last communication the writer of these lines had with 
 him contained an opinion of his conviction, that, on 
 the liberal and extensive employment of the Natives 
 depended the result, whether the Judicial system could 
 or could not be rendered efficient. 
 
 The Government, and the distinguished individuals 
 that are connected with it, can bear testimony to his ta- 
 lents and to his zeal but who shall speak for the countless 
 inhabitants of the mountain, village, and desolate wild, 
 in whose memories this good man's reputation is enshrin- 
 ed ? Mr. Scott was indeed a second Cleveland*, and will 
 
 * The following interesting account of this amiable philanthro- 
 pist occurs in Bishop Heber's Journal. 
 
 " The people of these mountains and of all the hilly country 
 between this place (Boglipoor*) and Burdwan, are a race distinct 
 from those of the plains, in features, language, civilization, and 
 religion. They have no castes, care nothing for the Hindoo 
 deities, and are even said to have no idols. They are still more 
 naked than the Hindoo peasants, and live chiefly by the chase, for 
 which they are provided with bows and arrows, few of them hav- 
 ing fire arms. Their villages are very small and wretched, but 
 they pay no taxes, and live under their own chiefs, under British 
 protection. A deadly feud existed till within the last for- 
 ty years between them and the cultivators of the neigh- 
 bouring lowlands, they being untamed thieves and murderers, 
 continually making forages, and the Mohammedan zemindars 
 killing them like mad dogs, or tigers, whenever they got them 
 within gun-shot. An excellent young man, of the name of Cleveland, 
 
 * Or Baugulpoor. ED. 
 
APPENDIX. 129 
 
 be long remembered in the parts where he has, for so ma- 
 ny years, brought the Government into honour, and won 
 for the European name a high respect. " A good name 
 
 Judge and Magistrate of Boglipoor, undertook to remedy this state 
 of things. He rigorously forbade, and promptly punished, all 
 violence from the zemindars, (who were often the aggressors) 
 against thepuharees, (mountaineers ;) he got some of these last to 
 enter his service., and took pains to attach them to him, and to learn 
 their language. He made shooting parties into the mountains, treat* 
 ing kindly all whom he could get to approach him, and established 
 regular bazars at the villages nearest to them, where he encourag- 
 ed them to bring down for sale game, millet, wax, hides, and honey, 
 all which their hills produce in great abundance. He gave them 
 wheat and barley for seed, and encouraged their cultivation, 
 by an assurance that they should not be taxed, and that no 
 body but their own chiefs should be their zemindars. And, to 
 please them still further, and, at the same time, to keep them 
 in effectual order, and to bring them more into contact with their 
 civilized neighbours, he raised a corps of sepoys from among them, 
 which he stationed at Sicligully, and which enabled him not only 
 to protect the peaceable part of them, but to quell any disturbances 
 which might arise with a body of troops accustomed to mountain 
 warfare. This good and wise man died in 1784, in the twenty- 
 ninth year of his age. A monument was raised to his memory near 
 Boglipoor, at the joint expense of the highland chiefs and lowland 
 zemindars, which still remains in good repair, having been endow- 
 ed by them with some lands for its maintenance. A garrison of 
 these mountaineers, which was then kept up at Sicligully, has been 
 since discontinued ; the corps being considerably reduced in num- 
 bers, and partly quartered at Boglipoor, partly, during the late 
 call for men, at Berhampoor. Archdeacon Corrie's principal bu- 
 siness at Boglipoor was to learn whether any encouragement existed 
 for forming a mission among those people. Their being free from 
 the yoke of caste, seems to make them less unlikely to receive the 
 Gospel, than the bigotted inhabitants of the plains." Bp. Heber's 
 Journal) vol. i. chap. 9. ED. 
 
 ft 2 
 
130 APPENDIX. 
 
 is better than precious ointment, and the day of death 
 than the day of one's birth." 
 
 N. S. 
 Rungpore, 6th Sept. 1831. 
 
 No. 40. 
 From the Calcutta John Bull, September %]th, 1831. 
 
 THE LATE DAVID SCOTT, ESQUIRE. 
 SOMETIME ago a short notice of the late Mr. Scott, 
 Commissioner at Assam, by a Civil Servant stationed at 
 Rungpore, appeared in the Bengal Hurkaru. We have 
 been since furnished with some particulars respecting 
 that lamented individual, by one who was personally ac- 
 quainted with him, and also with a letter he addressed to 
 the talented writer of the Sketches of India, which appear- 
 ed in the Kaleidoscope. It was in 1829, that our 
 informant first saw Mr. Scott. He had gone up to the 
 Cassya hills, to erect some huts for the accommodation 
 of the circuit judge of Dacca, when Mr. Scott went up 
 there, and received him very courteously. Mr. Scott 
 treated the Natives with great affability, and offered 
 chairs to the most respectable of those who visited him 
 an uncommon practice with gentlemen high in the Service, 
 but one which is calculated to win the affections of the 
 people. 
 
 Mr. Scott was remarkably diligent, beginning to work 
 every morning under his blanket, as he never used fires. 
 The mountaineers believed him to be invulnerable ; for, 
 after failing in several attempts to take his life, in those 
 
APPENDIX. 131 
 
 disturbances which terminated by taking possession of 
 the Cassya country, they gave up the design in de- 
 spair. In particular Teerut Sing, one of their chiefs, 
 perceiving that the bullets pierced even his iron-covered 
 shield, retired to the most inaccessible parts of his terri- 
 tories. The belief which prevailed among the ignorant 
 mountaineers that Mr. Scott was a debtah*, or something 
 like, arose from a temporary suspension of animation, 
 during" which he was supposed to be dead ; but the pre- 
 parations for burial were not immediately commenced on 
 account of the coldness of the climate ; and it was only 
 when the last offices were about to be performed, that 
 he gave signs of life. 
 
 Among Mr. Scott's plans for usefulness, two may be 
 mentioned. The establishment of a school for the 
 Garrows, and the Sanatarium at Churra Poonjee. He 
 proposed to reclaim the inhabitants of the G arrow hills 
 from their savage state, by opening a school for the 
 children, in which a written language (to which they are 
 strangers) was to be taught. The school was opened 
 under the sanction of Government ; but on the death of 
 the teacher, when Mr. Scott applied for permission to 
 appoint another, the Government stated, that a clergy- 
 man should be appointed, according to the recommenda- 
 tion of Bishop Heber, to place it under ecclesiastical super- 
 intendence ; in consequence of which no one has been 
 appointed. Mr. Scott will be best remembered by the 
 Sanatarium now erecting. The sick station, built at his 
 recommendation at Nunkhlow, was burnt down by the 
 Cassyas just before the commencement of the former. 
 * A god, or incarnation of the Deity. ED. 
 
132 APPENDIX, 
 
 The pains and trouble it cost him are described as 
 incredible. 
 
 Whenever Mr. Scott met with any new tribes of 
 mountaineers, whose language was different from the 
 known one, he directed inquiries to be made, with a view 
 to collect a vocabulary of certain words in that language. 
 This document was kept in his office for public use. A 
 reference was made to some of the political sentiments of 
 Mr. Scott, in the communication to which we adverted 
 before. It is stated there, that he had expressed his opi- 
 nion, " that on the liberal and extensive employment of 
 " the Natives depended the result, whether the judicial 
 " system could or could not be rendered efficient ;" but 
 the views of Mr. Scott will be understood from the 
 following letter, of which we have spoken ; hastily writ- 
 ten, as all his correspondence generally was. 
 
 Extract. 
 
 " DEAR SIR, 
 
 " I RETURN the books, and should be obliged to you to 
 request the Editor to send me a copy in future, if you 
 are in correspondence with him. I suppose that you 
 
 must be well acquainted with Sylhet F -. I am disposed 
 
 to agree with him in much that is said, as to the prevail- 
 ing evils, although I cannot see so clearly the cure ; 
 neither can I reconcile his proposal, in one paper, to 
 give office to the native nobility. Perhaps by the nobi- 
 lity he means the zemindars, with the establishment of 
 the mofussil magistrates, or darogahs with a better 
 salary. But they would still scarcely be chosen from the 
 nobility, who, in most cases, want both the ability and 
 
APPENDIX. 133 
 
 the inclination to perform much laborious duty, though 
 they would have no objection to hold the office, and allow 
 the business to devolve upon a deputy, who would only 
 prove a worse edition of our present daroghas. The 
 only nobility acknowledged under the Mahomedan dy- 
 nasty was that of office ; and, I believe, no part of our 
 system has given more general discontent than the undue 
 elevation which the class of zemindars has attained from 
 their great wealth ; the officers of Government, of inferior 
 rank, such as sereshtadars, tesheeldars, dewans, &c. hav- 
 ing formerly been considered as their superiors." 
 
 In person, Mr. Scott was rather tall, inclined to 
 corpulency, and of commanding appearance. Owing to 
 a diseased heart, he was in constant fear of being carried 
 off suddenly East Indian. 
 
 No. 41. 
 
 Extract of a letter addressed to the Editor of the In- 
 dia Gazette, 4fth April, 1832. 
 
 " I will assert, that whatever good may have arisen 
 from the perpetual settlement in other parts of India, the 
 effect of that measure in Chotah Nagpore has been to 
 keep the great mass of the inhabitants in an extreme 
 state of barbarity. For the purpose of illustrating my 
 meaning, I will notice a portion of country equally out of 
 the way as Nagpore, which has experienced great advan- 
 tages from the same settlement. I will then notice the 
 cause of the success in one place, and, by proving the 
 absence of that cause in the other, clearly demonstrate 
 
134 APPENDIX. 
 
 the position I have assumed, viz. that the operation of 
 the perpetual settlement, by depriving the cultivators of 
 any interest in the welfare of the country, is the " ele- 
 mentary cause," from which those^ disturbances have 
 arisen. The country to which I have alluded is Assam, 
 where the end proposed by the settlement has, in a great 
 measure, been obtained, viz. " jungles formerly inhabited 
 " by wild beasts have been cleared, and the land is now 
 " cultivated. Wealth and happiness have blessed the 
 " labours of the intelligent and industrious part of the 
 " community." (Vide Lord Cornwallis's letter to the 
 Court of Directors, dated 2nd August, 1J89) ; and as a 
 particular instance, I would notice Gowalparah, which 
 could, without oppression, pay a thousand rupees of 
 revenue for every hundred it now pays. Although I 
 really believe the prosperous state of Assam may be 
 attributed to the benevolent interference of the late en- 
 lightened Commissioner, Mr. Scott, who watched over 
 the people entrusted to his care with parental kindness ; 
 who made it a conscientious point of duty to inquire into 
 the actual condition of the " ryots," and his constant en- 
 deavour to improve that condition, yet we are not now in- 
 quiring into the motives which influenced the zemindars, 
 but state, as the true reason of the great improvement at 
 Gowalparah, in the extent of its cultivation and in the in- 
 crease of the prosperity and happiness of its population, 
 that the ryots are kindly treated, and consequently cheer- 
 fully exert themselves to increase the wealth and respect- 
 ability of their masters." 
 
APPENDIX. 135 
 
 No. 42. 
 
 Extract from a General Letter to the Honorable the 
 Court of Directors, No. 15, dated 23rd December, 
 1831. 
 
 PAR. 331. " Recorded as per margin will be found 
 a letter from Mr. Rhodes, the Civil Surgeon at Churra 
 Poonjee, announcing the death of Mr. Scott upon the 
 20th August last. In communicating this melancholy 
 intelligence to the Governor General, we expressed 
 our assurance, that his lordship would participate with 
 us in sentiments of deep regret and sorrow at the loss of 
 this valuable public officer, who had been distinguished, 
 throughout his career, by eminent ability, zeal, and 
 judgment, in the discharge of his duty, and by an ear- 
 nest desire to promote the prosperity of the districts, and 
 the welfare of the people placed under his superinten- 
 dance." 
 
 No. 43. 
 
 Extract from a letter from H. T. Prinsep, Esq. 
 Secretary to the Governor General, to Mr. Swinton, 
 dated Simla, 20 th September, 1831. 
 
 PAR. 1. " I am directed to acknowledge the receipt 
 of your letter, dated the 1st instant, with its enclosure, 
 and in reply to state that the Governor General unites 
 with the Vice-Preside nt in council in lamenting the unfor- 
 tunate decease of Mr. David Scott, Commissioner and 
 Governor General's Agent on the North-East Frontier. 
 
136 APPENDIX. 
 
 PAR. 2. " His Lordship is fully sensible of the de- 
 gree in which Government is indebted to the personal 
 character and to the zeal, industry, and ability uniformly 
 displayed by Mr. Scott, in the management of the large 
 territory and extensive relations committed to him. The 
 Governor General will be happy to concur in any reso- 
 lution that may be passed by the Vice-President in 
 Council, for the erection, at the public expence, of a 
 monument to the deceased, at the place of his inter- 
 ment, as a well-merited testimony of the sense entertain- 
 ed by Government of the character and public services 
 of this distinguished officer." 
 
 The complaint which thus brought Mr. Scott to a 
 premature grave was that singular disorder termed an 
 " ossification of the heart/' originating probably in the man- 
 ner described by Major White. It had gradually arrived 
 at such a height, that it was a matter of surprise to the me- 
 dical gentlemen who attended him, that he could have 
 lived so long. But there is no doubt, that the progress of 
 his malady was greatly accelerated by incessant applica- 
 tion to the various and important duties of his extensive 
 government. How powerfully his anxiety for the effici- 
 ent discharge of these, and for the well-being of the numer- 
 ous population entrusted to his care, excited his mind 
 even to the last, may be best understood from the closing 
 scene of his valuable life ; when, finding himself weaker 
 and more oppressed than usual, by his fatal disorder, yet not 
 aware of any immediate danger, Mr. Scott sent for the 
 gentlemen already mentioned as having been present at his 
 death, (Lt.-Col. Watson, Mr. Rhodes, and Lieut. Day) 
 and thus addressed them: " I wish you, gentlemen 5 to bear 
 

APPENDIX. 137 
 
 witness to Government, that I am no longer able to conduct 
 the affairs of the country :" here his voice failed. He 
 attempted, soon after, to speak again, and seemed in great 
 distress at finding himself unable. He continued thus, 
 from time to time, to murmur broken and ineffectual en- 
 deavours to address Col. Watson, who sat on the side of 
 his couch, but could not be understood. This affecting 
 sight so much distressed Col. W. that it was a relief 
 to him, at length, to observe that Mr. Scott seemed gra- 
 dually to lose his consciousness, appearing to dose as in 
 troubled sleep, in which state he continued till he ceased 
 to breathe ED. 
 
 The following is the Inscription on the black marble 
 Tablet of the Monument erected at Churra Poonjee. 
 
 OF 
 
 DAVID SCOTT, 
 
 Agent to the Governor General on the North-East 
 Frontier of Bengal, and Commissioner of Revenue and 
 Circuit in the districts of Assam, North-Eastern part of 
 Rungpore, Sheerpore, and Sylhet ; died 20th August, 
 1831, aged 45 years. 
 
 Is erected by order of the Supreme Government, as a 
 public and lasting record of its consideration for the 
 personal character of the deceased, and its estimation of 
 the eminent services rendered by him in the administra- 
 tion of the extensive territory committed to his charge. 
 
 B 2 
 
138 APPENDIX. 
 
 By his demise, the Government has been deprived of a 
 most zealous, able, and intelligent servant, whose loss it 
 deeply laments ; while his name will be held in grateful 
 remembrance and veneration by the native population, 
 to whom he was justly endeared by his impartial dispen- 
 sation of justice, his kind and conciliatory manners, and 
 his constant and unwearied endeavours to promote their 
 happiness and welfare. 
 
 No. 44. 
 
 Letter from the late David Scott, Esq. to Mr. C. A. 
 Fenwick, Register to the Local Record Committee, 
 Sylhet, Dacca, 7th March, 1827. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 In reply to x the queries contained in your letter of the 
 3rd, I beg to acquaint you, that the Garrows are partly 
 subject to the British Government, and partly independ- 
 ent ; the more remote tribes, or rather villages, being in 
 the latter predicament. They have no acknowledged 
 chief of their own race, each village with its adjacent 
 territory, of ten, or twenty, square miles, being quite 
 independent, unless where they have become subject to 
 the British Government ; and, in that case, they commu- 
 nicate directly with the officers of Government, and are 
 not subject to any zumeendar, or other intermediate 
 permanent authority. The person lately appointed, Mr. 
 Henley, has not yet acquired the Garrow language, and 
 has not consequently commenced his labours. If a cler- 
 gyman were appointed, Mr. H. would be placed under his 
 
APPENDIX. 139 
 
 control. The Garrows have no diversity of castes, nor 
 have they any regular priesthood ; although there is, in 
 most villages, a lame or blind person, incapacitated for 
 other work, who invokes the deities, and offers sacrifices 
 for the recovery of sick persons. The station where I 
 would propose that the clergyman should be placed is 
 about 40 miles from the station of Rungpore, and nearly 
 the same distance from the military cantonment of Ja- 
 malpore. There are weekly markets in the neighbour- 
 hood, to which the Garrows resort, and where the neces- 
 saries of life are procurable. Under what authority you 
 would be placed, I am unable, at present, to state 
 precisely ; but I suppose that of the Church Missionary 
 Society, subject to such control as the support given to 
 the establishment by Government, and public considera- 
 tions, would render advisable. I am uncertain as to the 
 extent of salary that Government would allow. The 
 late Bishop proposed 150 Rs. per mensem, and I think 
 it is likely that they would not wish much to exceed that 
 sum. A reasonable period would no doubt be allowed 
 for you to join. Medicines will certainly be allowed, 
 and Mr. Henley, who was a Deputy Apothecary, has been 
 appointed with reference to his medical knowledge, and 
 with the intention that he should instruct, in that art, 
 some of the youths, and such of the Garrow priests, as 
 might be induced to give up their present practice of 
 curing by conjuration, and to enter into the views of 
 Government for the general conversion of their brethren. 
 The means of erecting a bungalow would, no doubt, be 
 granted, together with a school room, and accommodation 
 for forty Garrow boys, whom it is intended to place 
 under the exclusive direction of the clergyman, to be fed 
 
140 APPENDIX. 
 
 and clothed by Government, and brought up in the 
 Christian faith. The diseases most common are fevers, 
 both jungle and intermittent. I know not of any healthy 
 spot in the hills, or east of the Burhampooter ; but, to 
 the westward of that river, there are plenty of salubrious 
 sites, where the Missionary might remain during the 
 rainy season. The danger from sickness I must not 
 disguise ; it is very great. I have myself been twice on 
 the point of death, from fevers caught in these hills, al- 
 though I never had even an ague fit, during a residence 
 of twenty-five years in any other part of the country. It 
 was not to testimonials of moral character that I referred, 
 but of those other qualities more particularly required in a 
 Missionary, who should devote himself to an undertaking 
 of this kind. Zeal, tempered with prudence, a capacity 
 for the acquisition of languages, a capability of enduring 
 the hardships and privations that must be looked for 
 in such a country, and some knowledge of agriculture, 
 mechanics, and the more common arts of life, would be 
 desirable qualifications for the Missionary who goes to 
 preach the Gospel to a rude and savage people, amongst 
 whom the introduction of the useful arts ought to pre- 
 cede that of a knowledge of letters. In respect to the 
 means to be pursued for the conversion of these people, 
 I do not anticipate any interference with your plans ; 
 founded as they would, no doubt, be, upon a mature 
 consideration of local circumstances, and the rude state 
 of the mountaineers ; and disposed, as I conclude you 
 would be, not blindly to reject such human means as 
 may be available for the furtherance of the object in view, 
 and amongst which, I contemplate, as the most feasible, 
 that of gaining over the priests, by making them a pecu- 
 
APPENDIX. 141 
 
 maty provision, equal to what they at present possess, 
 upon condition of their offering no opposition to the 
 introduction of the new faith. Some customs, inconsis- 
 tent with the doctrines of Christianity, it might be neces- 
 sary to tolerate, for a time ; the object in view being 
 rather to improve the rising generation than completely 
 to purify the present. Thus the marriage of two wives 
 might be hereafter prevented ; but the repudiation of 
 one, where there are already two, could not, perhaps, 
 with a fair prospect of success, be insisted upon. Al- 
 though the difference in the salary, which it was proposed 
 to Government to allow, is so great as to render it impro- 
 bable that you should continue to think of the situation ; 
 I have, nevertheless, thought it best to give you the 
 information you required, on the supposition, that this 
 difficulty may be got over, either by the liberality of 
 Government, or by some additional allowance from your 
 own Society. To the extent of 250 Rupees, I think, 
 that we may count upon the aid of Government. 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 D. SCOTT. 
 
 No. 45. 
 Extract of a letter from Mr. Scott to Mr. Fenwick. 
 
 THE general knowledge of husbandry and the arts 
 which you possess, will be in the highest degree useful, 
 and it is, I have little doubt, quite sufficient for the 
 object in view, which is not to make artizans of the 
 mountaineers, nor even to encourage the fabrication of 
 any article which they can procure, on reasonable terms, 
 
142 APPENDIX. 
 
 from the plains, by the barter of their staple commodity 
 cotton ; but merely to point out to them such obvious 
 improvements and simple mechanical inventions as would 
 immediately suggest themselves to a person at all conver- 
 sant with the agriculture and arts of Europe, America, or 
 the more civilized parts of Asia. 
 
 No. 46. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Mr. Scott to Mr. Fenwick, 
 Gowahatty, \%th August, 1827- 
 
 I ENTIRELY approve of your suggestion relative to the 
 school for girls, and it is one of the chief advantages I 
 anticipate, from placing fifty families entirely under the 
 control of the Missionary, that he will be able to get a suf- 
 ficient number of children, of both sexes, without difficul- 
 ty, or making it a favor, as might be the case, were he de- 
 pendent on the caprice of the chiefs. Any sudden alter- 
 ation in the usual occupation of the females had better 
 be avoided, of course. They are at present chiefly em- 
 ployed in field labour ; sowing, weeding, and tending the 
 crops, forming their department, while the men cut 
 down the jungle, make fences, and carry the produce to 
 market. If the system of irrigation proposed* should 
 answer, a great change might be effected, as the land 
 would be rendered permanently fertile, and the labour now 
 undergone by the men would, ultimately, be much reduced. 
 They at present cultivate according to the practice known 
 in Sylhet by the term joom. When the season is favor- 
 
 * By Mr. Fenwick. 
 
APPENDIX. 143 
 
 able good crops are procured by this means ; but, owing 
 to the steepness of the ascents, the finer particles of the soil 
 are washed away by the rain, and it becomes quite barren 
 by the expiration of the second year, when a long fallow 
 is required to render it again productive. By cutting 
 the sides of the hill into steps* the soil would be rendered 
 flat, and this loss consequently avoided, while, by having 
 a command of water, (it is not proposed to raise water 
 artificially, but merely to dam up the rivulets and turn 
 the stream where it may be required,) good crops would 
 be ensured independently of the vicissitudes of season. 
 There could not, of course, be the slightest objection to 
 the substitution of hogs or other stock for that proposed. 
 Turkies might perhaps be advantageously introduced, and 
 could prove a source of considerable profit should the 
 climate agree with them ; which, however, with reference 
 to its dampness, is not very likely. It would certainly 
 be desirable to bring up some fruit trees, but I would 
 not go to any considerable expence on this account, as I 
 could supply you with mangoes, peaches, the China fruits, 
 pears, &c. from this quarter, without charge. 
 
 D. S. 
 
 * The mode here suggested by Mr. Scott is adopted in most of 
 the wine countries of Europe, and in the island of Madeira. Where 
 the hills present a favourable soil, aspect, and exposure, for the 
 cultivation of the vine, but with acclivities too steep, terraces are 
 formed to prevent the loose earth from being washed away ; and, 
 to counteract the effects of the summer heats, water courses are 
 constructed along the sides of the mountains, which enable the 
 cultivators to irrigate their vineyards as occasion may require. ED, 
 
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