Assam, a province at the N. E. extremity of British India, presidency of Bengal, between lat. 25° 50' and 28° 20' N., lon. 90° 40' and 97° 30' E., bounded N. by Bhotan and Thibet, N. E. by Thibet, E. and S. by Burmah, and S. W. by Bengal; area, 21,800 sq. m.; pop. variously estimated at from 200,000 to 700,000, the smaller number being probably more nearly correct. The country lies between two mountain ranges, branches of the Himalaya, which are joined at its eastern end, and rise both on its northern and southern side to the height of nearly 20,000 feet. These send out offshoots along the sides of the valley which forms the province, and which consists of a long and level plain, studded here and there with groups of hills. The number of considerable streams exceeds 60, so that Assam is supposed to contain more rivers than any other equal extent of territory in the world. The Brahmapootra is the chief of these, flowing through the centre of the country from E. to W. The soil is fertile, and the climate temperate and agreeable. A regular rainy season, like that of the tropics, lasts from March till October, swelling the rivers and flooding great districts of the plain, obliging the inhabitants to construct high causeways between the towns and villages.

Earthquakes are frequent, but seldom severe. The country is rich in minerals, containing coal and petroleum, iron, and gold dust in some of the river sands. Tea, silk, sugar, tobacco, and ivory form leading articles of trade. The tea plant is indigenous here, and is largely cultivated under the auspices of the English "Assam Tea Company," more than 17,000 acres of tea plantations having been under cultivation within the last few years. Tigers, leopards, bears, deer, and other wild animals abound, and elephants are very numerous. The Assamese are akin to the Hindoo races. They are lithe and active, though generally slight in frame; they are almost beardless, and have unusually smooth skin. They live in huts of bamboo and mats, and lead rather indolent lives, carrying on few and unimportant industries. The most widespread religion is Brahminism, but there are also many Mohammedans. Assam was governed by a series of kings, concerning whose origrin and reigns little is known, until the 17th century, when a formidable attempt was made by the Mogul emperors to attach it to their dominions.

This was defeated; but from that time the country became the prey of revolutions, and gradually declined in power till 1770, when the British troops interfered in a revolution against the rajah, and occupied a portion of the territory. In 1826, in the war with Burmah, the British finally took possession of the country.