328 Journal of a visit to [May, 



to proceed, and after waiting three days for the arrival of the chief, 

 I returned to Khosha's, where I met with Primsong, who had just 

 returned from a visit to Trusong, a chief whose village is far in 

 the interior. 



I had thus hecome acquainted with all the influential chiefs near our 

 frontier, and by all I was received in a friendly and hospitable manner. 

 In accordance with my original intentions, my attention was in the 

 first place directed towards ascertaining whether the tea exists in this 

 direction or not, and, as I have already informed you, I have every 

 reason to think that the plant is unknown on these hills. From what 

 I have seen of the tea on the plains, I am disposed to believe that the 

 comparative want of soil, due to the great inclination of all the 

 eminences, is an insuperable objection to its existence. 



As I before observed to you, during my stay at Jingsha my curiosity 

 had been excited by reports of an incursion of a considerable force of 

 Lamas into the Mishmee country. It hence became, having once 

 established a footing in the country, a matter of paramount import- 

 ance to proceed farther into the interior, and, if possible, to effect a 

 junction with these highly interesting people ; but all my attempts to 

 gain this point proved completely futile ; no bribes, no promises 

 •would induce any of the chiefs to give me guides, even to the first 

 Mishmee village belonging to the Meyhoo tribe. I was hence com- 

 pelled to content myself for the present, with obtaining as much 

 information as possible relative to the above report, and I at length 

 succeeded in gaining the following certainly rather meagre account. 



The quarrel, as usual, originated about a marriage settlement between 

 two chiefs of the Meyhoo and Taeen tribes : it soon ended in both parties 

 coming to blows. The Meyhoo chief, Rooling, to enable him at once 

 to overpower his enemies, and to strike at once at the root of their 

 power, called in the assistance of the Lamas. From this country a 

 force of seventy men armed with matchlocks made an invasion, and, as 

 was to be expected, the Taeen Mishmees were beaten at every point and 

 lost about twenty men. The affair seem to have come to a close about 

 September last, when the Lamas returned to their own country. 

 Where it occurred I could gain no precise information, but it must 

 have been several days' journey in advance of the villages I visited. 



It was owing to the unsettled state of the country, resulting from 

 this feud, that I could gain no guides from the Digaroos, without whose 

 assistance in this most difficult country, I need scarcely say, that all 

 attempts to advance would have been made in vain. These people 

 very plausibly said, if we give you guides, who is to protect us 



