BRITISH RELATIONS WITH BHUTAN
Bhutanese in consideration of an annual payment of yak-tails, ponies, musk, gold-dust, blankets, and knives to the estimated value of Narrainee Rs. 4785.4.
The seven Assam Duars were:
- Booree Goomah.
- Kalling.
- Churkolla.
- Banksa.
- Chappagorie.
- Chappakamar,
- Bijni.
The eleven Bengal Duars were:
- Dalingkote.
- Zumerkote.
- Chamurchi.
- Suckee.
- Buxa.
- Bhulka.
- Bara.
- Goomar.
- Keepo.
- Cherrung.
- Bagh or Bijni.
It was from these Duars that the Penlops in whose jurisdiction they lay, and under the Penlops the Jongpens, and under the Jongpens the inferior frontier officers, who were sometimes Assamese and Kacharis, derived their support. When we occupied Lower Assam the British Government renewed and continued the engagements made by the Assamese with the Bhutan Government. These arrangements were complicated, and contained in themselves the elements of constant dispute. The tribute due from Bhutan was payable in kind, and as an inevitable consequence questions constantly arose as to the value of the articles given and received. But this was not the only source of complication. The five Kamrup Duars were held exclusively by the Bhutanese, and were entirely under their management, but the two Darrang Duars of Booree Goomah and Kalling were held under a very peculiar tenure, the British Government occupying them from July to November in each year, and the Bhutan Government for the remainder of the year.
Owing to the articles sent for tribute failing to realise
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