ASSAM', a province at the n.e. extremity of British India, stretehing in n. lat. from 22' to 28', and in e. long. from 90' to 98°, and containing, in '72, 4,132,019 inhabitants i on an area of 53,856 sq. miles. In 1874 it was formed into a separate administration (including Cachar) under a chief-commissioner. It forms a part of the basin of the lower Brahmaputra, and is intersected also by about 60 other rivers. Being thus irri gated, as it were, by nature, A. abounds in wood, and is very fertile. Among its indigenous productions is the tea-plant. In. the year 1874, the yield of tea was 11,082,958 lbs. The other products are rice, mustard, gold, ivory, amber, musk, silver, iron, lead, petroleum, and coal. From Bengal the principal imports are woolens, India fabrics, salt, opium, glass, earthenware, tobacco, betel, etc.
In 1826, at the close of the first Burmese war, A. was ceded to the British. The upper portion of the province, however, was conferred, as a separate principality, on the native rajah, whom the Burmese had expelled; and it was only in 1838, that in consequence of his misgovernment, the entire country was actually placed under British administration. Since then, the province has exhibited a noticeable improvement, for
which, considering that the population is only about 60 to the square mile, there is still, however, almost unlimited scope. The great evil is the prevalence of earthquakes, few mouths passing without a shock or two. The people, however, seem to think lightly of thcm—the only one that is specially remembered as being of extraordinary severity havinn. occurred as far back as 1807.
A. is divided into 13 districts. Gowhati and STlhat are the only towns of consider able size.
One of the most striking features of A. is the abundance of wild animals, such as tigers, rhinoceroses, leopards, buffaloes, and elephants. Of the elephants, not less than 600 are annually caught; and when tamed, bands of them may be seen, harmless as cows, in the charge of a single attendant. The forests teem with game, and the rivers with fish.