84 Geological and Statistical Account of the [Feb. 



Turning to the eastward over a few small hills intersected by ravines 

 and covered wirh jungle, the road leads to Rambreengheh*, Ky out-nemo 

 and Singhunnethe. I observed some very beautiful creepers as I passed 

 over these hills. The leaves, which were very small and delicate, were 

 of a pink colour, and at a distance had the appearance of clusters of 

 lilac blossoms. Of the animal tribe I saw nothing deserving of notice, 

 save a solitary Ghi and a flying squirrel ; (termed Tshen by the Mughs.) 

 It is a very handsome creature, and larger than the squirrel of Europe. 

 The head, back, and tail are covered with a rich coat of dark-brown 

 fur ; the under part of the chin, neck, belly and legs being of a bright 

 yellow colour. The skin about the sides and forelegs is loose, and 

 capable of being so much extended, that in making its prodigious 

 spring from tree to tree it appears rather to fly than leap. It is said 

 to be very destructive to gardens ; if taken young it may be rendered 

 perfectly tame. 



Entering upon the plain, the village of Rambreengheh, with its sur- 

 rounding hills covered with gardens of plantain trees, meets the tra- 

 veller's view. A few well built Kioums are seen resting upon the side 

 of these hills, which are, in some instances, crowned with glittering 

 temples built over the ashes of the departed priests. The village 

 is large and remarkably neat. The soil in its vicinity, a rich yellow 

 clay, taken up with plots of indigo, tobacco, and pepper plants. Bricks 

 manufactured from this clay, and reserved for the erection of temples, 

 were piled up in several places outside the village. Beyond Rambreen- 

 gheh, and to the right of my path, lay the large village of Kyouk-nemoi, 

 almost concealed from view by the forest of plantain trees with which 

 it is surrounded. Kyouk-nemo is accessible to the sea by a large creek, 

 and was at one time much infested with dacoits ; through the exertions 

 of the magistrate at Rambree the reign of terror is now at an end, and 

 the village is apparently in a thriving condition. Approaching the 

 creek, which is at some little distance from Kyouk-nemo, I was fortu- 

 nate in finding two Godoohs with their small boats at anchor ; otherwise 

 as there is no ferry at this place, I must have gone round much out of 

 my way ; the merchants kindly consented to take me and my followers 

 over for a small consideration, and the mahouts prepared to swim 

 their elephants across. The shore on the opposite side consisted of a 

 deep clay, which made the progress of the elephants after landing a 

 matter of considerable difficulty. So heavy was the soil, that I was 

 unable to make my way through it unassisted by the boatmen, who in 



* Little Rambree : it resembles not a little the town of Rambree, and thence its 

 name, 

 t Red stones. I saw none of them in my path. 



