Page:Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 7, Part 1.djvu/31



The history of this district is perhaps involved in still greater obscurity than that of Dinajpur. Almost the whole of it is included in the ancient Hindu territory of Kamrup, which extends east from the Kurotoya where it joined the kingdom of Motsyo, to Dikkorbasini a river of Assam, which enters the Brohmoputro a little to the east of the eastern Kamakhya, which is said to be fourteen days' journey by water above Jorehat the present capital of the kingdom. I have not been able to learn, that the ancient Hindus mention any kingdom as intervening between Kamrup and China. Those whom I have consulted seem to think that Kamrup is bounded on the east by Chin; by which, however, it must be observed, is probably meant the country between the Indian and Chinese empires, for as justly observes, the Chinese empire is the Maha Chin of the Hindus. He indeed calls Pegu the China of the Hindus; but in this he is only to be considered as mentioning for the whole, what was then the principal kingdom, as now we might say that the empire of Ava is the proper China of the Hindus; and in fact it now separates Kamrup from the Chinese or Maha Chin. On the north Kamrup extends to Kongjogiri, the frontier of Madro, the kingdom of Sailyo, which comprehends Bhotan; I have not, however, been able to learn where the mountain is placed, and the Bhoteas seem to have made large encroachments on the whole northern frontier of Kamrup. The southern boundary of Kamrup frontier of Kamrup, is