ON THE KHAMTIS P.R Gurdon : On the Khamtis, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. XXVII (1895)

The habitat of the Bor Khamtis, who are said to number 20,000, is in a valley high up the Irrawady, in latitude 27° and 28° east of Sadiya. The Khamtis that we know in Assam are those that have emigrated from "Bor Khamti" and have settled in Assam after the breaking up of the kingdom of Pong by Alomphra. These settlers established themselves early in this century on the "Tenga Pani" (a river in the vicinity of Sadiya), with the permission of the Ahom kings. Before proceeding further, it will be interesting to note that this Khamti movement is the second Tai emigration that we have on record. Some considerable time previously the Ahoms, who spoke a language much akin to the Khamti tongue, and who are also of the Tai race, made an irruption over the Patkai range and invaded and conquered Assam. The Khamtis, who had apparently been given hospitality by the Ahoms because they were almost kinsmen, before long rose against the Ahom king, and ejected the Ahom governor of Sadiya or "Sadiya Khowa Gohain". The Khamti chief took the governor's place and retained it. The Ahom king, not strong enough to oust the Khamti usurper, had to recognise him. During the rule of this chief local Assamese were reduced to slavery, and they were not released till our own Government interfered in 1839. Out of the revenge the Khamtis rebelled against our Government, and the Sadiya Garrison, including its commander, Col. White, was surprised and cut up. This led to reprisals on our part, and the Khamtis were attacked, defeated, and scattered abroad. During the following year many of them returned to their home in Bor Khamti. Those that remained divided into four parties, and settled in different parts of the Lakhimpur district.

N.B Bor Khamti is an Assamese name for the great Khamti country in Myanmar (Mueng Khamti Loung).