1 837-3 the Mishmee hills in Assam > 327 



remarkable is the existence of a species of maple and one of rue : the 

 former being an inhabitant of Nipal. the latter of considerable eleva- 

 tions on the Khasiya ranges. I was met here by Tapan Gam, the 

 chief of the kdnd, who claims all the offerings invariably made to the 

 deity by every native visitor of whatever rank or religion he may be. 



After examining the adjoining hills, over which the route pursued 

 by Lieutenant Wilcox lay, I was convinced of the impracticability of 

 proceeding, at least with the usual description of Assamese coolies. 

 I was therefore compelled to retrace my steps to Jingsha, having pre- 

 viously arranged with Tapan Gam for guides to shew me the usual 

 route. At Jingsha I was delayed for several days in bringing up rice, 

 which had been kindly forwarded from Sadiyd by Lieutenant Millar, 

 and without which I knew it would be impossible to visit the interior. 

 From Jingsha I proceeded up the Karam in an easterly direction, 

 diverging thence up the Kussing Pdnee in a N. E. direction, thence 

 skirting the foot of the hills, through remarkably heavy bamboo 

 jungle. After a long march we descended a low hill to the Lai Pdnee, but 

 at a higher point than any previously visited. The following day I 

 commenced the ascent, passing during the day a small Mishmee village 

 without a name, and halting on the slope of a hill in heavy tree jungle. 

 Commencing our march early next morning, we ascended and descend- 

 ed, several considerable hills, and at noon reached Deeling, the Dilling 

 of Captain Wilcox. This is a small village consisting of a few 

 houses, scattered in various directions, and opposite to it on the great 

 mountain Thumathaya is another called Yeu : there is about this place 

 a good deal of cultivation. It was here that I came upon the route 

 previously followed by Captain Wilcox. This I followed as far as 

 Ghaloom's : it is correctly described in that officer's memoir on Assam 

 and the neighbouring countries. Our halts were as follows : — on the 

 third day the bed of the Lohit ; on the fourth at the mouth of the Lung ; 

 on the fifth at Ghaloom's, whose village has been removed to the 

 banks of the Lohit, and at a distance of about one hour's march in 

 advance from the old site. From Ghaloom's I proceeded to Kuosha's, 

 whose village is on the north bank of the Lohit. I crossed the river, 

 which is here about forty yards wide, and as usual deep and tolerably 

 rapid, on a bamboo raft, no one but the Mishmees venturing by the 

 suspension canes, which are here stretched over a space of about 

 eighty yards, and at a formidable height from the stream. From 

 Khosha's I proceeded to Pkimsong's, whose village is at a much 

 higher elevation than any of the others: but Primsonq was unfortu- 

 nately absent. This was the extreme point to which I was enabled 

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