1883.] S. E. Foal— Notes of a trip up the Diliing. 43 



had several good views, not only down on, and along the same, but over 

 the Mbong yang plateau beyond, to the east. The long level cliff was very 

 conspicuous, wooded to the very edge, and the second line of cliff behind, 

 which was more pronounced on its northern extremity towards the Dapha 

 group, and where the plateau was also bounded by another cliff, not quite 

 so regular. 



Some distance beyond the second terrace to the east a third was visi- 

 ble, and beyond all, far off another much higher and also flat-topped. The 

 southern end of which was broken up, and at last consisted of a few 

 isolated low hills, rising above the lower level. 



They report the Mbong yang plateau altogether to be a good day's 

 march from east to west. From here also, the continuation of the Dapha 

 group eastwards was well seen, ending a long way east-south-east, in the 

 Phungan ridges, snow covered, and which (in the view) closed up to hills 

 along the south side of Dihing and distinct from Patkai (which was 

 behind) and not now visible, though I constantly endeavoured to see it. 



The ridges and flats west of Dapha do not appear at all regular, at 

 least we several times had pretty stiff climbing among spurs and gullies, 

 eventually, however, we came to where the land for a long way was very 

 level, and the path well defined, and here, as on the " Mbong yang" 

 the Hingori tree so predominated that the spined seeds, or seed cases, 

 caused exclamations at every step ; being shod I did not feel them. 

 It was getting well on in the afternoon when we came out on a sort 

 of natural clearing, and finding there was water to the south in a slight 

 depression, determined to camp, though we had come such a short way, as 

 we should not find good ground for it at the Nchong kha. The site here 

 was covered for about twenty acres or so, by rank long grasses, now wither- 

 ed, and trampled down by elephants until quite open, a few large trees 

 being scattered here and there, and it looked like an old Jiim site. Several 

 im^mense thistles stood dead, with the leaves fallen over and hanging close 

 to the stem, the head branched and carrying the well known seeds. To 

 make certain I cut several down, and took off the heads. The total height 

 was from 15 to 18 feet in one case, and the hollow stem, 2" diameter. 

 None of the Asamese had seen them before, nor had the Kamti, or 

 Singphus (so they said). It certainly seemed out of place in these forest 

 jungles, and it occurred to me as having come transported on the north- 

 east winds from the upper open ridges of the Dapha Biim. There were 

 only some four or five of them, as far as we saw, and all — as they stood — 

 looked remarkably handsome and suitable as designs for Candelabra. 



Very soon our camp was pitched near the little pool or sedgy hollow, 

 near trees, and hearing several remark how very cold the water was, 

 I found it at 43° F. I made the men fire the grass, and being very dry 



