Rum Subsidies

The English officials in the far east have some queer methods of dealing with the natives of various provinces who have oome ander the sway of their government. For the snbmission of some of the tribes composite subsidies are paid each year by the British agents. A good specimen of these is the subsidy paid to the Bhutias of Assam. The chief s assembled nnder the wideBpreading shade trees in front of the agent's bungalow, and the subsidy, consisting of 5,000 rupees in silver, 10 pieces of broadcloth and 48 bottles of rum, were spread out on the ground. A formal ceremony, lasting only a few minutes, precedes the actual ery of the subsidy. -