“The History of Upper Assam, Upper Burmah, and North-Eastern Frontier.”

Abstract

I HAVE had the opportunity of looking through this recent publication, which was reviewed in NATURE, vol. cxiv., p. 481, December 31, 1914. It is most interesting reading to anyone, but particularly to those like myself who spent many years on the Eastern Frontier among the tribes mentioned. This book covers so large an area, goes back so far into the past history of Assam since the East India Company were brought into relation with that country, and further back into a lost history of its ancient greatness, that 256 pages cannot do the subject justice. Very much which has been written of Assam, particularly in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and other publications, is not referred to at all, while certain parts are very sketchy, even inaccurate. At the same time, very much that Colonel Shakespear has written is extremely interesting, and his knowledge and experience are very considerable, from having served so long in the country, and his conclusions sound. On p. 108, treating of events in the Dafla country in 1874, when Colonel Stafford commanded a force which entered the country, we find”