DIFFICULTY OF PROCURING ELEPHANTS 429 



sleeping within the influence of the wind, which nightly rushes 

 down from the elevated plateau to take the place of the 

 exhausted air of the plains, through one of the numerous 

 gorges abutting into the plains, through which almost invariably 

 a river flows. 



The great crying evil of Assam was the want of communi- 

 cations ; the country is subject to inundation, and to make 

 roads fit for traffic all the year round very heavy embankments 

 are required. Until Captain de Bourbel, Bengal Engineers, 

 became superintending engineer, no regular system of road- 

 making worthy of the name had been initiated. When I 

 arrived not at all willingly, as I did not wish to leave 

 Burma he asked me to undertake a regular system of sur- 

 veying various routes and taking levels, so as to have reliable 

 data to go upon. 



After considerable obstruction from Bengal I got my own 

 way, and was allowed to purchase four good elephants, 

 towards which I did not hesitate to contribute myself, so as 

 to get really good reliable beasts, not only for burden but 

 also for sport. It was impossible to force one's way on these 

 Goliaths through the vast prairies covered with long grass 

 from 10 feet to 30 feet without disturbing much game, and it 

 was also impossible to decide on the best line for embank- 

 ments which would also suit hereafter for railroads without 

 thoroughly exploring the country. So for the first two 

 years I lived almost on elephant-back, and had explored the 

 country from the Deopani river down to near Tara in the 

 Garrow hills. I had also to construct a road to Dewangiri in 

 Bhootan, and to lay out and partially construct a cart-road 

 between Gowhatty and Shillong. I had also charge of the 

 Public Works in the Cossyah and Jynteah hills, and also in the 

 Tezpore district ; so I had enough of out-door work to look 

 after, which I flatter myself I did thoroughly ; but I was also 

 expected to do most elaborate office work, for which I had 

 neither time nor inclination, and in which no doubt I failed, 

 and brought down 'on me the animosity of the accounts 

 branch in Bengal. The two should be totally separate : no 

 man can excel in both. If useless and minute accounts were 

 required, they should have sent men to compile them for the 



