JOURXEY TO SIRINAGUR. 323 



the north, east, and south, by higher mountains, 

 the situation, must be, at some seasons, intolera- 

 bly hot, and probably unhealthy. 



These ranges of hills rise, with a moderate, though 

 unequal slope, from the plains below, and are skirt- 

 ed by deep forests, extending from Hurdzvar through 

 JiokiicH/id, Oude, and the countries to the eastward, 

 and produced many kinds of valuable timber, and an 

 abundant store of plants, never yet, perhaps, brought 

 under the systematical examination of the botanist. 

 They also abound with game of many descriptions. 

 Elephants are found here, and sometimes range be- 

 yond the skirts of the woods, to the great injury of 

 whatever cultivation they meet with : but their de- 

 predations are particularly directed to sugar planta- 

 tions. 



They are considered inferior, in size and value, 

 to the elephants brought from the eastern countries ; 

 and are seldom caught, but for the purpose of taking 

 their teeth. 



The soil of these forests varies, from a black fat 

 earth, where the trees or shrubs which it nourishes, 

 acquire a large size ; to a firm reddish clay, and mix- 

 tures of gravel and loose stones of various descrip- 

 tions. 



On the 21st, I marched to Amsore, a small village 

 on a little cultivated spot. The first part of the road 

 lay in the bed of the Koa-nidlah, and tiie whole of 

 it was so rugged, that although the distance is only- 

 computed four coss, and I judge it not to exceed 

 seven miles, I employed three hours and a half in 

 walking it, and my baggage did not arrive till six 

 hours after I set off. The general direction of the 

 road is about N. E. by. E. 



On the 22d, a walk of two hours and forty minutes 

 Y 2! carried 



