4.18(a) Palliar

4.18(a)

Palliar

(Detour from Scott’s Road to Brigg’s Trace)

From Oomloor, there was a detour to the second of our bridle paths – Brigg’s Trace. And in 1866, if a traveller left the road at Oomloor and crossed over to Colonel Briggs's road, and went to a place called Palliar, in May and June, the bison were plentiful.

4.19 Mopea

4.19

Mopea

In 1835, Robert Pemberton travelled this way and recorded that the dense jungle up to Onswye was succeeded by a more open tract, in which the fir began to appear[161].

4.20 Onswye

4.20   

Onswye

By this time William Griffith was all anxious to leave the hills, which had lost all their charm, although the vegetation was still more gigantic and interesting[162]. 

4.21 Mossia

4.21   

Mossia

In 1854, it was Thomas Oldham who passed this way and recorded that from this point the descent towards the plains of Assam was comparatively gentle, and for the first 3-4 miles the road winded beautifully among grassy knolls and groups of pine, till it reached the bungalow at Mossia, a desolate looking log-house standing solitary and inhospitable amid the surrounding solitude[164]. Wild animals were said to be very abundant here, though extremely rare on the higher part of the Khasia range.

4.22 Jyrung

4.22

Jyrung

Dak Bungalow

Jirang was another petty Khasi state. From here, there were 2 routes to Nongkhlow – one via Bundrew and the other via Ramree (Rambrai was another petty Khasi state).

4.23 Moirapore

4.23

Moirapore

There was a tea garden here belonging to the Lower Assam Company. At present, it appears that the Borduar tea estates are located here. It is in Kamrup district of present day Assam.

4.24 Ranee (Godown)

4.24

Ranee (Godown)

Dak Bungalow

Not much is known about this area except that, between the foot of these really delightful hills and Ranee Godown, the number of plants dwindled and William Griffith could locate only one plant deserving of mention.

4.25 Phulbari / Boko

4.25

    Phulbari (Assam)

Boko

Scott’s Road finally came to an end at Phulbari, which is on present day National Highway 37.

4.26 Gowahatty

4.26

Gowahatty

From Ranee Godown, William Griffith had the pleasure of walking 19 miles to Gowahatty, which he reached on 23 November 1835[176]. In March 1865, James Thornton marched into Gowhatty, a distance of 17-18 miles (presumably from the tea garden at Moirapore), and camped on the parade ground there[177]. This was the principal station of Lower Assam, and extended for some distance along the south bank of the great River Brahmaputra which flowed through that province. 

4.27 References

4.27

References

[1]In 1823, Captain Adam White was deputed to help Scott in the administration of Lower Assam. He was later made a Major and then a Colonel. In January 1839, when he was the Political Agent, he was killed during a night attack on the British garrison at Sadiya. A History of Assam, Edward Albert Gait, Thacker Spink & Co., Calcutta 1906, University of California.Pg.286 and 305.