ON EXPLORATION BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA. A31 
capital of Tibet, to China crosses them all just under the meridian of 30°, and 
_ enters the water-system of the Yang-tse-Kiang at Bathan. This route is in 
daily use throughout the summer, but is closed in winter. We may gather from 
the narrative of Huc that some of the passes are very elevated, and that the 
country is very difficult for many days’ journey. There is this further ob- 
jection to it, that the direct road from Assam to Eastern Tibet, up the course 
of the Dihong, is closed to Europeans by savage tribes, who have hitherto 
resolutely opposed the transit of Europeans through their country. As our 
influence over these tribes increases, it may be hoped that it will be possible to 
explore this route. 
The great eastern branch of the Brahmaputra, the Lohit, runs through the 
Mishmi country, a rugged region of steep mountains covered with dense 
forest. The Mishmis are de jure, if not de facto, tributary to England. The 
upper course of this stream is more open and fertile, and inhabited by a Tibetan 
race, tributary to Lassa. From this province, called Dzain, there are easy 
passes (closed during winter) N. and E., that to the eastward leading, at a dis- 
tance of seven laborious days’ journey, to the R. C. Mission Station of Bonga, 
believed to be on the Salween, from which unfortunately the missionaries have 
recently been expelled. From Bonga, according to these missionaries, there 
is a practicable route to the eastward. 
Further south there is a well-known route, travelled long ago by Wilcox, 
from Upper Assam to the upper valley of the Irawadi. This route crosses no 
range more than 9000 feet high, and can therefore present no serious obstacle 
to commerce. Itis, further,in the direct line of nearest contact between the 
Brahmaputra and the Yang-tse-Kiang. The distance from Sudiya to Mancha, 
at which place Wilcox struck the Irawadi, is about 100 miles. The unknown 
part is thus reduced to 155 miles. There is no doubt that this country is 
mountainous and partly snowy ; but snowy passes are throughout the Hima- 
layas no obstacle to the abundant transit of goods. 
The more southerly routes from Assam, over the Patkaye hills and through 
Munnipore into the valley of the Irawadi, cross no snowy passes, and are 
most valuable for communication with Burmah; but, as already said, they 
are too circuitous to suffice for the connexion between Assam and China. 
The unknown country the exploration of which is considered essential by 
the Committee is coloured brown in the sketch map exhibited ; alarge part of 
this area is directly under the control of the Government of India, so that its 
exploration by a properly equipped party is only a question of expense. The 
_ Upper Ivawadi and the other regions dependent on Ava are also, it is believed, 
easily accessible to a British Mission. Whether the obstinate resistance of 
the Tibetans to the entrance of Europeans is their own act or that of the do- 
minant race can only be known by results. Even if no more can be done, the 
importance of the thorough investigation of our own and the Burmese pro- 
vinces cannot be exaggerated. Itis only after accurate mapping of the country, 
and exact determination of the height and steepness of the mountain-chains, 
that the best route can be chosen. The gain to geographical and natural 
science would of itself repay all the cost. There is, further, much reason to 
hope that the gain to commercial interests would be great; and should this 
not be the case, the urgency of the demand for this exploration by those in- 
terests is a good reason for setting the question at rest one way or another, 
