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On the Southern frontier of Jaintia Hills, the people had frequent intercourse with the people of Sylhet district especially in their trade relations at a very earlier period. The period may be traced back to the time of the Mughal rule over Sylhet and during the British rule when the latter stepped into the former's place. Although occasional raids and skirmishes in the frontier took place between the fierce tribes of the hills and the plainsmen, but business transactions were also carried on between the two people. Among the many tribal people in North-East India, the Khasis and Jaintias are more highly trade-minded people. In Jaintia Hills, the area occupied by the War Jaintias was more exposed to the plains of Sylhet. Jaintiapur, the ancient capital of the Jaintia Kingdom was not far from War border area. Thus Jaintiapur besides being the capital of the kingdom, it also served as an entrepot between the people of the hills and the plains which led to an extensive commercial relationship between the two areas. To qoute Robinson: 'A considerable trade in cotton, iron ore, wax, ivory, betel leaf and clothes is carried on between the plains and hills; and Jaintiapur, the capital, is the great extrepot in which all commercial dealings are transacted between the inhabitants of the plains and those of the hills. The articles specified, are battered for salt, tobacco, rice and goats'.

An earlier contact in terms of trade and other relations was also possible because of the availability of road and river communications between the War areas in the hills and Sylhet in the plains. There has been a road connection between Shillong and Sylhet since 1933 when this road was declared open by His Excellency Sir Michael Keane, the Governor of Assam at that time. This road which passed through Dawki, the main market centre in the War border area, connected Sylhet, the centre of the Surma valley at that period of time with Shillong, the capital of the Assam province and Guahati, the key city of the Brahmaputra valley. After the road was completed it took only five hours pleasant motor journey between Shillong and Sylhet through Dawki. Earlier it took thirty five hours weary journey by road and rail between Shillong and Sylhet. This road also connect Dawki with Sylhet in the south and Shillong in the north. Thus through this road the War people could easily transport their goods and other agricultural produce to Sylhet and Shillong. Sylhet has a great demand for betel nut, betel leaves, bay leaf and oranges besides other horticultural coprs. The War Jaintia border belt is also famous for the production of the various horticultural  crops especially betel nut, betel leave and orange. Oranges were exported to Sylhet and from Sylhet to Chatak and Calcutta via the river ports of the then East Bengal. The presence of Road communication opened a better avenue for the people in the hills to sell their produce outside. Their produce was easily traded to the plains which has tremendous demand and ready customers to buy them. Their produce thus found a suitable marketing place in the plains. There has also been an exchange of goods from both side . Thus before partition there was free trade and commerce between the hills and the plains people. The people therefore, lived a prosperous life during this period of time. Old people till today use to refer to their wealth, prosperity and comfort that they could avail in the past- 'THOSE WERE THE DAYS!.

Council Market

Private Market  under JHADC Control