Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 425 



and waders. At this place there is a small bungalow for the accom- 

 modation of the civil officer during his annual visit ; it is situated 

 close to a rather broad but shallow river. There is likewise a bund 

 road. 



We proceeded from this place to Dum-Dumma, which is on the 

 Bootan boundary, and is distant ten miles from Nolbharee. We 

 continued through a very open country, but generally less cultivated 

 than that about Nolbharee ; villages continued numerous as far as 

 Dum-Dumma. 



December ^\st. We left for Hazareegoung, an Assamese village 

 within the Bootan boundary. 



We passed through a much less cultivated country, the face of 

 which was overrun with coarse grassy vegetation. No attempts 

 appeared 'to be made to keep the paths clean, and the farther we 

 penetrated within the boundary, the more marked were the effects 

 of bad government. We crossed a small and rapid stream, with a 

 pebbly bed, the first indication of approaching the Hills we had as 

 yet met with. 



We left on January 2d for Ghoorgoung, a small village eight 

 miles from Hazareegoung ; similar high plains and grassy tracts, 

 almost unvaried by any cultivation, were crossed ; a short distance 

 from the village we crossed the Mutanga, a river of some size and 

 great violence during the rains, but in January reduced to a dry 

 bouldery bed. There is no cultivation about Ghoorgoung, which is 

 close to the Hills, between which and the village there is a gentle 

 slope covered with fine sward. 



We entered the Hills on the 3d, and marched to Dewangari, a 

 distance of eight miles. On starting we proceeded to the Durunga 

 Nuddee, which makes its exit from the Hills about one mile to the 

 west of Ghoorgoung, and then entered the Hills by ascending its 

 bed, and we continued doing so for some time, until in fact we came 

 to the foot of the steep ascent that led us to Dewangari. The road 

 was a good deal obstructed by boulders, but the torrent contains £tt 

 this season very little water. 



The mountains forming the sides of the ravine are very steep, in 

 many cases precipitous, but not of any great height. They are 

 generally well-wooded, but never to such a degree as occurs on 

 most other portions of the mountainous barriers of Assam. At the 

 height of about 1000 feet we passed a choky, occupied by a few 

 Booteas, and this was the only sign of habitation that occurred. 



Dewangari, the temples of which are visible from the plains of 

 Assam, is situated on a ridge, elevated about 2100 feet above the 

 Ann, Nat. Hist. Vol.4. No. 26. Feb. 1840. 2 H 



