1881.] Nongymuj Lake, on flic Burmese Frontier. 17 



cow-houses ; where the sulphur came from I could not ascertain. The 

 charcoal was made of the wood of citron-trees, jaura tenga of the Assamese. 

 This powder is not granulated or very strong, so large charges are necessary. 



At 9 a. m, the boiling-point thermometer showed 209°. GO, the 

 temperature of the air being 01° F. 



After a fine cool clear moonlight night we were up at dawn, and our 

 party had an early breakfast, the loads were carefully arranged, and I 

 prevailed on five Nagas to carry extra rice for us. 



Leaving the village at 11 a. m , we at once passed through the last 

 year's j/ium towards the south-east, and down a long spur, towards a tract 

 of low wooded hills, on one of which we passed the last Naga village in this 

 direction, a small one of some five or six houses. There are no Nagas east of 

 the Dihing and Namrup. Thence through their jlium partly felled, and on 

 down to the bed of a stream, along which we travelled a little way, coming 

 out on the Nambong, a small river that carries the northern-drainage of 

 the Patkai east to fall into the Namrup and Namphiik. There was not 

 much water in it, though here and there we saw pools ; the bed was rock, 

 boulders, gravel, and sand alternately. How they kept to the path it was 

 not easy to see, for we often cut off bends by suddenly parting the jungle 

 and finding a rude track below, — at times even this was not to be seen, as it 

 was over boulders and rock. Still, the faculty of keeping or finding the track 

 is part of the savage nature all over the world, and when studied and 

 understood is not at all wonderful On opening their eyes anywhere in the 

 jungles, these savages can read the surroundings like a book, it is their 

 book in fact, though sealed up, or the signs invisible, to the civilized 

 intelligence. 



Near the mouth of the Niiki, which drains a valley between two of 

 the large spurs of Patkai, we camped at a clear spot, where there was also 

 plenty of firewood, and wild plantains, for the guide, Miing, and the Nagas 

 to make a hut of. 



Bedded rock, laminated shale, was passed frequently inclined at 60° or 

 70° dipping south. 



At dusk, when cooking, the stones under the fires, or supporting the 

 various pots, frequently exploded, so that the operation beeame rather 

 exciting, and it was agreed by the Bengalis that the Nambong Deo, or 

 spirit, had objections to it ; however, it was all over ere long, as we were 

 hungry, and, on the moon coming out, we spent a very pleasant evening. 

 Stories and jokes abounded ; now and then a general howl was raised to 

 warn off a tiger that prowled about, though none seemed much afraid of 

 him (his tracks were fresh and plain on patches of sand not far off in the 

 morning). At 9 p. m. the thermometer stood at 60° F. 



After breakfast, at 9 A. M., we again started on and soon struck 

 3 



