Chap. XXIX. KHASSYA HILLS. 515 



The Khassya hilJs in 25° N. lat. form an isolated mass, _*, 

 rising up from the plains of Assam and Silhet to a height of 

 6000 feet. They rise abruptly from the plains of Silhet to 

 the south, and at 3000 feet tree vegetation ceases, and is suc- 

 ceeded by a bleak stony region, with a temperate flora, up to 

 4000 feet, where the English station of ChuiTa Poorji is built. 

 The table-land is here thi-ee miles long by two, to the east- 

 ward flat and stony, and to the west undulating and hilly. 

 On the south there are rocky ridges of limestone. The south- 

 ern side of the hills is exposed to the full force of the mon- 

 soon, and the rainfall is excessive, as much as 500 or 600 

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

 it gradually decreases until the valley of Assam is entered. 

 This great rainfall is attributable to the abruptness of the 

 mountains to the south, which face tlie Bay of Bengal, and are 

 separated from it by 200 miles of Jheels and Sunderbunds. 

 The heavy rains on the Khassya hills are quite local, as in 

 Silhet the fall is only ] 00 inches. The plateau presents a 

 bleak and inhospitable aspect, and there is not a tree, and 

 scarcely a slu-ub to be seen, except occasional cliuups of 

 Pandanus. This desolation is caused by the fm-ious gales of 

 Mind, and the extraordinary amount of rain which washes off 

 the son. The valleys are open, though with deep flanks, and 

 the hill-tops are broad. The grassy slopes to the, north are 

 covered with clumjDs of shrubby vegetation, and the forests 

 are confined to sheltered localities. Though the rainfall on 

 the southern side is 600 inches, twenty mUes inland it is 

 reduced to 200 inches. The mean annual temperature of 

 Churra Poorji is 66°, and in summer the thermometer rises 

 to 88° and 90°. To the westward of the Khassyas lie the 

 Garrows, which do not attain a greater height than 3000 to 

 4000 feet.« 



* Flora Indicu, i., p. 233. Himalayan Journals, ii., p. 277. 



2 L 2 



