In 1855, the discovery of the tea-plant, growing wild in the jungles,opened out a quite new industry, and soon the low-lying hills, knolls andundulating plains of the little valley became gradually clear ofjungle, and coveyellow instead with row after row of carefully-kept andtrim tea bushes. To-day acres upon acres of tea are grown in Cachar;and the inland steamers, which ply all through the rainy season upand down the wide-rolling stream of the river Barak, bring down forexport millions of pounds of tea for the "cheering cup".

Cachar is rich in jungles, and tigers and other wild beasts are therein plenty. During the monsoon the jungle beasts retreat to the higherlevels of the jungle-clad hills. But when the rains abate they beginto gradually descend; and when the great "hoars" or fenlands dry upat the approach of the cold season, numerous tigers take up theirwinter haunts in the patches of jungle, which grow here and there inthe marsh lands, and in the jungles which often surround or separatethe tea gardens.