234 FLORA INDICA. 



tins 



of Silhet to the height of about 4000 feet, and thence more 

 gradually to 6000 feet. The culminating point is Chillong 

 hill, the elevation of which is about 6600 feet. Their south- 

 ern slopes are exposed to the full force of the monsoon, and 

 the rain-fall is there excessive, amounting at Churra to 500 or 

 600 inches annually. Further in the interior the fall is less, 

 and it gradually diminishes in amount till the valley of Assam 

 is entered. On the north side the slope of the mountains is 

 less abrupt, though there too there is a sudden fall from 5000 

 to 2000 feet, below which level a succession of gradually low- 



hills 



estward of the Khasia hills lie the Garrows 



maximum 



more than three or four thousand feet. To the east, beyond 

 Jyntea or Jaintia, which is similar in general character to 

 Khasia, and will be included by us under that designation, 

 there appears to be a considerable depression in the range, a 

 large river with an open valley penetrating far to the north. 

 These hills have, however, not been explored by Europeans. 

 To the east of Cachar again there are lofty hills, inhabited by 

 Nagas, and also quite unexplored, except in one place, where 

 they were crossed by Griffith in travelling from Upper Assam 

 to the Hukum valley, on a tributary of the Irawadi. 



Notwithstanding the enormous rain-fall and the great hu- 

 midity of the atmosphere, the higher parts of the Khasia hills 

 are generally bare of trees, except in ravines and occasionally 

 on northern exposures. This remarkable peculiarity is due 



drainage 



removal of the soil by the heavy 



winds 



Wh 



mountains 



far 



At the base of the Khasia the vegetation is tropical, and 

 b nlants the same as those of Assam. The sheltered and 



