1126 REPORT—1885. 
from the Waindad, at a general altitude of 5,000 to 6,000 feet, and with summits 
running up to 8,000 feet and upwards. Its undulating grassy surface, splendid 
climate and scenery are noticed. 
The tour is continued to the south of the Nilgiri Mountains, where the high 
wall of the Western Ghats abruptly terminates, giving place to a wide low passage 
called the Palghat Gap, to the south of which the mountains rise again to their 
full height, and are often termed generally the Southern Ghats. They are more 
like a true mountain range, springing directly from the low country on all sides. 
They are not known to contain any large table-land or plateau on their summits, 
but are broken up into large valleys and lofty peaks, the highest point (Aneimudi), 
which is also the highest in India south of the Himalaya, attaining 8,838 feet. 
Thence the author takes us to the Palani Hills, a peninsular hilly plateau in two 
steps, somewhat resembling the Nilgiri plateau and the Wainad, then down to the 
eastern plains with their remarkable red sand-hills drifting like waves before the 
wind ; then south to Cape Comorin, the land’s end, and finally round by way of 
the east coast and Rameswaram to Trichinopoly. 
4, Ona Trip from Upper Assam into the Kampti Country and the Western 
Branch of the Irrawady River, made by Colonel R. B. Woodthorpe, R.E., 
and Major OC. R. MacGregor. By Lieut.-Colonel H. H. Gopwin- 
AustEn, F.R.S. 
Colonel Woodthorpe’s recommendation to the Chief Commissioner of Assam to 
take up again the exploration of the mountainous country in Eastern Assam, and 
to penetrate if possible beyond the water-parting, having been acceded to by the 
Indian Government, survey operations were commenced last winter in the valley of 
the Diing, or upper waters of the Noa Dihing of the plain country. While en- 
gaged on this work, Colonel Woodthorpe, accompanied by Major MacGregor and 
Messrs. Ogle, Grant, and Latouche, reached the pass of Chanken, 8,300 feet, at the 
head of the valley, and it was then decided that an effort should be made to visit 
the Kampti villages on that branch of the Irrawady visited by Wilcox sixty years 
ago, and never attempted since. It was impossible that the whole party could go, 
so the three last named returned to finish the survey of the Diing Valley, while 
Colonel Woodthorpe and Major MacGregor, who commanded the escort, went on 
alone. They travelled lightly, with only four sepoys and forty coolies, and in ex- 
tremely inclement weather, after six days, reached the stockaded village of Langni, 
and were well received. They then went on as far as the right bank of the Nam 
Kiu River, a large tributary of the Irrawady, rising in the snowy range to the 
northward ; it was here eighty yards wide, with long deep pools and rapids. Thence 
going on to Padao, they saw the chief Rajah, Lukin, of the district, who came 
from his summer residence to meet them, and he was most friendly, and begged 
them to stay a month and see all the country. The approaching rainy season 
rendered this impossible, and they had to start back at once for the Assam side, 
only doing so just in time, the swollen rivers being far more difficult to cross than 
on the outward journey. The whole expedition was well planned and carried out, 
and if the same tact and judgment can be shown in our future relations with these 
Kamptis, we shall soon know as much of the country on the head waters of the 
Trrawady as we do now of the Garo, Khasi, and Naga Hills. 
Only a very ordinary road is required, crossing some point on the Patkai range, 
to open up a future trade with these people from the Assam side. And to this 
may be added the knowledge of the geology, the zoology, and botany of this most 
interesting revion, 
5. On the complete Exploration of Lake Yamdok in Tibet. 
By TRELAWNEY SAUNDERS. 
_ 6. On Himalayan Snow Peaks. By Lieut.-Colonel H. C, B. Tanyer, 
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