Abstract: Western Duars is situated in the northern portion of present West Bengal in India. In the pre-colonial period this area was a part of Pragjyotishpur- Kamrup, Kamatapur and Cooch Behar State. Population was very meagre as this area was covered by hill and jungle; only the people of some Indo- Mongoloid tribes such as Mech, Toto, Garo, Rabha, and Drucpa lived there. After the occupation of the Duars by the Brirish in 1865 by the 2nd Anglo- Bhutanese war, Britishers cast their commercial eyes on that area. They introduced new economic policy creating new jotdary system in the lands and establishing tea enterprising in the Duars.
[1]. Surgeon Rennie, Bhotan and the Story of Dooar War, First published in London in 1866, Second Published in New Delhi, 1970
[2]. Charu Chandra Sanyal, The Meches and the Totos- Two Sub- Himalayan Tribes of North Bengal, NBU, 1973, p, 7.
[3]. W. W. Hunter, A Statistical Account of Bengal, Delhi, 1877, pp, 254-255.
[4]. West Bengal State Archives, Kolkata, Revenue Depertment, Land Revenue, Government of Bengal, P.V.I, Nov, 1891.
[5]. Ibid.
[6]. Barun De, et.al,West Bengal District Gazetteer,Jalpaiguri 1981,pp, 204-205,and J.A. Milligan, op.cit,Letter of F.A.Sachse,Director of Land Records,Bengal, p, 6.