54 S. E. Peal — Notes of a trip up the DiJitng. [No. 1, 



get a clue to its feasibility. When examined on the map it will be seen 

 that this distance is about half the total on a direct line to Aten-tzu on 

 the Kinsha kiang. One-third of this total I had just seen, presented no 

 great obstacles, i. <5., from Makum to the eastern end of the Mbong yang 

 plateau Longitude 96°'45' (near Khomong). Thence to Mung Kamti is 

 over the Songsan Boom with perhaps elevation of 8,000 feet. The Mli kha 

 valley is pretty level (see Wilcox also) and the hills east of it have passes at 

 about 3,000 feet leading to the Disang. Thus we know something of this 

 route for rather more than half the way, (i. <?., four-seventh) and only 

 about fifty miles remain, to join it to Gills' route. But of this fifty miles 

 all I know, is, that it must cross the Shoemai, Salwin, and Mikong. It is 

 a great pity that Government has not finished up the survey of Asam even 

 within our own frontier, as far as Phungan Boom, and the head of the 

 Dihing valley, especially as there cannot possibly be any objection locally ; 

 and we have men such as Col. R. G Woodfchorpe, R. E., thoroughly com- 

 petent and probably willing for the work ; were the Surveys on our own 

 side executed, it would go a long way towards simplifying this rather com- 

 plicated question. 



The possibilities or otherwise, of opening a route from Asam either 

 direct to Aten-tzu, or via Hukong to Tali fu, and western Yunan is one 

 thing, the advantages or otherwise of such routes compared to their 

 difficulties is another, and a matter I at present do not discuss, especially 

 after the late Capt. Gill, E. Colbourne Baber, and Colquhoun have so 

 emphatically denied the value. In the present I confine myself to the 

 borders of Asam eastwards and the passes and people around. 



