criticism may be undertaken in future when more materials will be forthcoming. He was bewildered at the sight of the immense mine of sources and data for a history of Assam and of Assamese language and literature. Large numbers of manuscripts re presenting the culture and civilisation of Assam are lying un traced and forgotten in the archives of Assamese families be sides numerous inscriptions and archaeological relics scattered throughout this hoary land of Kamarupa. The first task of the historical pioneer in Assam is to collect the data now readily available but which will be effaced during the course of a few decades. Hemchandra's performance has the risk of being superseded by the more critical, scientific and academic attempts of future workers; but their value will lie chiefly in the fact that they have been able to rouse and maintain a sustained interest in historical investigations in Assam. The achievement of the pioneer or spade-worker is as laudable as that of the constructive historian, the latter being impossible without the former. The pioneer is a martyr to his cause while the fortunate reconstructor reaps the fruit of his earlier path-finder's labours. While the majority of his countrymen remained deeply engrossed in worldly pursuits, Hemchandra's life was dominated by an overwhelm- ing, if not fanatical, zeal for research. He had to create his own facilities. The arduous duties of a judicial officer could not hold him back from the performance of what, he thought, was his life’s mission. He will live in the grateful remembrance of posterity, not as an efficient revenue officer or magistrate, but as an earnest and zealous Assamese worker whose patriotism was primarily directed towards the revivifi- cation of the glorious past of his motherland. The regrettable spectacle of Hemchandra poring over official files or over the contending versions of deponents-Hemchandra who by his natural equipment and taste could perform tasks of more enduring and permanent importance-was nothing short of national calamity.
