Ixi the progress of the literature was seriously checked. It is no doubt making some progress now, but it has been neces- sarly slow, as it has not yet been able to recover its lost, grounds completely. 10. Is TEER AN INCREASE OR DEGREAS IN। | THE PRopuCTION OF LITERARY WORKS IN ASSAME? There has no doubt been an increase in the literary pro- ductions in recent years, but the increase is so slight that it is not worthwhile to take any account of it. The expan- sion of Bengali literature in the present age is chiefly due to the growth and prosperity of the Bengali people and the spread of high education amongst them, All these elements are wanting in the case of the Assamese people; they are prover- bially a poor people; there is no leisured class in Assam who can devote their time and money for the advancement of their national literature. They have been decimated by the Kala-azar. Every year a large number of them are carried away by cholera, by small-pox and other epidemics. Their resources were seriously crippled by the earthquake of 1887. has occupied a position in the worldwide republic of human letters. To ensure a larg culation of his book he Assamese author has to adjust the manner and matter of his wribing to suit the mind of all jeaders ranging from the most highly educated scholar down to his usmirilliterate countrymen. Every man has to struggle hard for bread and cannot participate in thd economically unprofitable Angnitis of cultured life, by expanding the cope of his knowledge or voyaging through the realms of thought alone. The only effective remedy will be the tablishment of a central publishing organisation, with network of branches all over the Aggo Valley••••••••••Tho cumulative effect of all the handicaps has been the concentration of Assamese literary activities in Assamed perio- anals." , A. B. । To this should be in the art of the Boi Bas, . B. ded the existence of a city of eleven hundred thousand soule nation, and to p ass of ealthy laured cla mong the
