Miscellanies. 197 
square yards of level ground by terracing, no labor seems to have 
_ been spared to redeem such spots for the purpose of rice cultivation. 
In ascending the pass, we soon came to places where. it was difficult 
for our bearers to find a footing, and where they had consequently 
to pick out their steps as they advanced. To assist themselves, 
they gave the chair a swinging motion, with which they kept time 
in raising their feet. This was far from agreeable, and the first im- 
pression was that it was done merely to annoy, but we very soon 
saw that the object was different. The highest point of the pass I 
should conjecture to be about 1200 feet above the plain, and the 
descent on the north side to be nearly equal to the ascent from the 
south, say 1000 feet. At half past four we arrived at a rather ro- 
mantic valley, which was to be our halting place for the day.” 
* Nov. 12th. Got into our chairs at a quarter past six, A. M. 
~ and proceeded along a narrow rugged dell towards Koéboé. Seve- 
ral nice looking hamlets were seen,on the way. The people were 
engaged in reaping the rice, which seemed heavy, and well filled in 
the ear. In several places I observed that they had taken the pains 
to tie clumps of rice together for mutual support. Sugar cane is 
bound in the same way, and for additional security, the outside 
canes are mutually supported by diagonal leaves, which serve at the 
same time to form them into a kind of fence. The leaves are not 
tied up round the stalks as in Bengal; the ‘cane is slender, white, 
hard, and by no means juicy or rich ; yet, abating the black fungous 
powder, which is very prevalent, the surface is healthy, and close 
growing in a remarkable degree. We arrived at Koéboé at eight 
o’clock, and finding we could get water conveyance for part of the 
way on which we were proceeding, we engaged a boat for that pur- 
pose. After a hearty breakfast, we embarked at 10 A. M. amidst 
crowds of people who covered the banks of the river at the ghat. 
On.inquiry, we found that the river on which we were proceeding 
in a W.N.W. course, was the same which passed Nganke heén, and 
flowed to Tseuenchow foo. The boat was large, but light, and be- 
ing flat bottomed, drew very little water. The stream was so shal- 
low, that it was only by tracing the deepest part of the channel from 
side to side of its bed, that we were able to advance at all. This 
was done by poling; in several places the stream was deepened by 
throwing up little banks of sand so as to confine its course within a 
channel merely wide enough for the boats to pass through. I esti- 
mated the width from bank to bank at 200 yards, and should judge 
