ASSAM, SYLHET AND CACHAR. Ill 



and plain, from 60 to 120 inches per annum, and it rejoices 

 in a luxuriant vegetation which, especially in same of the 

 lower hill valleys, is thoroughly tropical in its character, and 

 unsurpassed in density and richness, even in Tenasserim or 

 the Nicobars. 



Now I propose to say, firstly, a very few words about the 

 Manipur state itself and its inhabitants ; secondly, to give 

 a brief sketch, reproduced from my diary of my trip to 

 it, so that people may realize how one gets to it, and some- 

 thing of what kind of place it is ; and, thirdly, as this may be 

 my last opportunity of putting on record for the benefit of 

 brother ornithologists the results of my personal experiences 

 in these matters, I wish to submit a few remarks on the 

 nature of the records that collectors on expeditions like mine 

 to Manipur will, I believe, find it desirable to maintain. 



All this will constitute the introduction to my paper, which 

 will itself consist of a complete list of all the species certainly 

 ascertained to occur there. With these I shall combine (though 

 printing their names in italics) all other species that I know to 

 occur in any part of Assam, Sylhet and Cachar, and I shall 

 give the distribution, so far as is yet known, of all these species 

 in all these provinces, as also (for a considerable proportion of 

 them belong rather to the Burmese than the Indian sub- 

 region) in the three Provinces of British Burmah. Lastly, 

 I desire to analyse, though in a superficial fashion, the list of 

 Manipur itself and compare it roughly with that of Sindh. 



/. — The State of Manipur and its inhabitants. 



Manipur is a small *' protected " state lying on the extreme 

 east of India, abutting on to that easternmost* district, Cachar, 

 and jutting out into Upper Burmah. It comprises a tract 

 of country roughly 110 miles long from north to south and 

 90 miles broad from east to west — a tract comprising some- 

 what over 8,000 square miles of country, of Avhich the exterior 

 portions are entirely mountainous, consisting of several series 

 of narrow forest-clad ranges running generally north to south, 

 divided by narrow gorges, each boasting its river torent or 

 brawling stream ; the ranges of varying heights, but nowhere, 

 where I saw them, rising above 7,000 feet in height, though 

 on the northern boundary, to which I did not penetrate, rising 

 to some 10,000 feet, and one or two peaks, I believe, higher 

 still. Set in the midst of this framework of hills lies an 



* It will be remembered that this was written before our rulers had invaded 

 Independent Burmah, and had annexed it, and done their best to kill all those 

 of its people who bravely struggled to preserve their liberty and the inde- 

 pendence of their country. 



