10 S. E. Peal — Notes of a trip up tie Biling. [No. 1, 



The travels and careful observations of, Gill, Baber, and Colquhoun, 

 however, leave no reasonable doubt that our dreams of an easy trade route 

 to western China cannot be realized, and Patkai is but the first of a series 

 of increasing difficulties. 



Exploration for the purposes of a trade route are more needful east 

 than west of Irawadi, and the unsettled state of upper Burma, compelled 

 me to look to the upper Dihing basin, as the site of this trip. The only 

 European who had visited it being Wilcox in 1827. 



The following is an account of my expedition during part of December 

 1881, and January and February 1882. 



As on former occasions, I took my own load carriers, and depended as 

 little as possible on getting " locals." To lighten their loads, and at the 

 same time carry things securely from theft or temptation, I had 8 or 9 small 

 Sasi wood boxes made to hold most of the things, and measuring about 

 18" X 12" X 8" weighing 31bs. and with locks and hinges, 3 alpine tents 

 of strong Jean, 7 feet square, and weighing 81bs., poles included ; when 

 rolled up served as padded poles or " kanmaris" to tie loads to, and they 

 enabled us to house ourselves comfortably in a few minutes, the whole 

 load being about SOTbs. per man. Provisions for the men, such as 

 rice, oil, salt, ghi, sugar, &c., I procured as we went along and laid in 

 a good supply at the last of the little shops up the river. My own provi- 

 sions largely consisted of Kopf's soups, sausages, Californian beef, dessi- 

 cated soup, " coffee and milk" &c., in tins, also biscuits, butter, tea, and 

 coffee &e. At the same time most of these were really carried as reserves, 

 my daily commissariat being generally furnished locally en route, by pre- 

 sents or purchases of fowls, ducks, eggs and fish, or got by shooting. 



Thus a traveller really need not fear a difficulty in carriage of pro- 

 visions, until he leaves the inhabited tracts, and has to face 10 or 12 days 

 of complete isolation. 



As before when on similar expeditions I took a good kerosine wall 

 lamp and a supply of thick buggy candles that require no stand ; also as 

 arms a D. B. C. F. No. 12 shot gun, revolver, and a beautiful little Martini 

 Henry Carbine weighing only 4iibs. that carries to about 900 yards and 

 has cartridges of 14 to the lib., a very handy little weapon that can be 

 carried slung all day long with no fatigue. Presents of beads, strike fires, 

 a few cloths, and electro mugs for the chiefs also, were necessaries, as well 

 as a small selection of medicines. 



Starting from Jaipur on the Dihing at Christmas we went to Makum 

 by land which is a mistake, and travellers should at once take canoe for 

 Eisa, or as far beyond as possible. Having to wait for Daks we camped 

 early at the " Jura Pung" the road to which was along the boundary of 

 the Makum forest reserve. The Pung is a salt lick and shews the remains 



