Letter from the past SOUND BITES

The boundaries of the Tripura

Kingdom was larger than what
present day historians believe.
This letter by the then Inde-
pendent King of Tripura clearly
suggests the actual boundaries
relating to the Eastern boundar-
ies (present-day Mizoram).

Dated Agartala, 9th February

1874.

From- BIR CHANDRA MANIKYA,

Bahadur, Maharajah of Indepen-
dent Tipperah,
To- The Political Agent, Hill Tipperah.

Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your
office memo. No. 32, dated the 3rd instant, with its enclo-
sures, and in reply beg to say that the river Langai between
the Jampui and Haichak ranges being fixed by the Govern-
ment of India as the eastern boundary of my territory, and
the Lushai country being east of the Haichak ranges, I do not
know why I shall be required to establish a defensive line of
posts on the verge of my own cultivation. The Lushais, if ever,
come to any place beyond the river Lungai, that is, either to
my territory or to the Sylhet or Chittagong side in British ter-
ritory, they will, I need to say, have first to cross the British
territory, namely, the Haichak ranges, etc. If, however, the
Government of India thinks it necessary, I shall be prepared
with a view to strengthen the Sylhet portion of the line to
post one or two guards on the north-east frontier of my terri-
tory.

I have, etc.,
(Sd.) BIR CHANDRA DEB BARMAN,
Maharajah of Independent Tipperah

8 August 08 August 08 3