830 Journal of a visit to [May, 



any obstruction : indeed the natives seem to think that the more diffi- 

 cult the paths the better, a great, r security being thus obtained from 

 foieign invasion. Better paths do exist, and there is one in particular 

 on the north of the Lohit, which is that commonly used by the 

 Mishmees when carrying cattle back from the plains to their homes. 

 But it was my fortune to be shown the very worst, although I 

 escaped the cliff above alluded to by following on my return another 

 but very circuitous route. Up to Ghaloom's old site the hiils are nearly 

 entirely clothed with dense tree jungle, the points of some being 

 covered with a coarse grass ; thence every step towards the eastward 

 is accompanied by a most material improvement, the hills presenting 

 a very pleasing and varied surface, and being only clothed with tree 

 jungle towards their bases. The extreme summits of the loftiest are 

 naked and rugged. 



Rivers and Torrents. The torrents which are passed between the foot 

 of the hills and Ghaloom's are the Tussoo (Dissii of Wilcox), which 

 separates Thumathaya from Deeling, the Lung and the 0. Of these the 

 Lung is the only one not fordable ; the Mishmees cross it by suspension 

 canes. I preferred constructing a rude bridge, which, as the torrent 

 is divided by huge boulders, was neither a difficult nor a very tedious 

 affair. The Tid-ding, which is of considerable size, is on the right 

 bank of the river. The rills are frequent, especially towards the foot of 

 the hills. I saw only one waterfall of any magnitude near the Tussoo : 

 the body of water is not great, but the height of the fall is certainly one 

 hundred feet. The Lohit itself beyond the Lung is of no great size, 

 the average breadth of the stream at that season being from forty to 

 fifty yards. At Ghaloom's its depth did not appear to exceed thirty 

 feet. It is a* curious fact, its temperature is lower than that of any of its 

 tributaries. Although I have not seen the Dihong, judging from the 

 comparatively small size of the Lohit, the probability is much in favor 

 ©f the former carrying off the waters of the Tsan-poo. — Primsong in- 

 deed informed me that the Lohit above the Ghaloom Pdnee (Ghaloom 

 Thee of Wilcox) is an insignificant mountain stream. 



Altitude of Mountains. Of the height of the various ridges sur- 

 mouuted I can give no idea : the only thermometer I had was 

 unfortunately broken before my arrival at the kund. The high- 

 est I visited was Lamplang-thaya ; the next in height Thumathaya : 

 on both these snow occasionally collects during the cold months. The 

 western face of the latter is completely bare towards its summit, the 

 eastern being covered with tree jungle. Of the former, the upper 

 third is completely naked ; and two efforts to complete its ascent were 

 fruitless. 



