130 Journal of a Tour [March, 



ing salt wells in this village : the springs are copious and in full play, 

 sufficiently so to feed a small stream which flows from them into the 

 Maglung ; the water in the centre of the well is nearly as salt as brine, 

 and on the sides, where it has been exposed to the sun for any time, 

 fully so : in the bed of the river, immediately opposite the village, are 

 also salt springs, which rise in bubbles to the surface of ^the water. 

 The village, though not inhabited for many years, is perfectly free of 

 grass and jungle, the salt wells rendering it a favourite resort for wild 

 animals. In two hours from the village, reached the site of the second 

 Num-mo, where also are salt springs ; and in another hour, the junc- 

 tion of the Tadoi Khynong nala, where I put to for the night ; from 

 hence to where the road to Sunayachil crosses the Tadoi Khynong is 

 five hours' journey. The current during the day generally very slow. 

 Passed three rapids, each of about thirty yards continuance, but the fall 

 so trifling as not to render it necessary to unload the boats : some of 

 my people were generally walking and amusing themselves in search- 

 ing for turtles' eggs, which are so abundant that the boat might have 

 been almost loaded with them. In several places found an ore con- 

 taining a light-coloured metal, of what nature I have not skill enough 

 to determine, but have kept specimens (iron pyrites) ; coal also abundant. 

 The Kubos say it is petrified charcoal of teak, in which opinion I am 

 inclined to agree, as I saw several blocks of that wood, which were un- 

 dergoing the change, parts of which were burnt and appeared the" same 

 as the coal : total time travelling this day six hours. 



13th — Roused by a concert similar to that of yesterday morn- 

 ing ; a bear, which had been growling nearly the whole night on 

 the opposite side of the river, came in the morning to have a look at 

 us. Before I could get my gun ready to salute him, he walked off. 

 Three hours after leaving yesterday's halting place, reached a rapid 

 called Khyuk-taeeng, where the boats were obliged to be unloaded ; 

 and after about three hours more, a second, where a like precaution was 

 necessary. Neither of these rapids is of a greater length than 40 yards : 

 the last which is named Chum-ka-te, is the worst, being, as far as I 

 could judge, a fall of about 10 feet; its difficulties are increased by large 

 and loose rocks, over which it rushes. The obstacles offered to the na- 

 vigation of the Maglung by these rapids might I conceive be overcome 

 by digging small canals, for which there is sufficient room : even as it is, 

 however, the river is perfectly practicable for dingees, such as the one 

 I am embarked on, and would be more so were the rocks in the bed 

 removed, which I understand the raja intends doing : the only precau- 

 tion necessary is to unload and carry the loads for about 40 yards. Im- 

 mediately above and below the rapids the river is as still nearly as a 



