234' FLOBA INDICA. 



The Khasia hills rise abruptly on the south from the plains 

 of Silhet to the height of about 4000 feet, and thence more 

 gradually to 6000 feet. The culminating point is Chillong 

 hillj the elevation of which is about 6600 feet. Their south- 

 ern slopes are exposed to the full force of the monsoon, and 

 the rain-fall is there excessive, amounting at Churra to 500 or 

 600 inches annually. Further in the interior the fall is less, 

 and it gradually diminishes in amount tiU the valley of Assam 

 is entered. On the north side the slope of the mountains is 

 less abrupt, though there too there is a sudden fall from 5000 

 to 2000 feet, below which level a succession of gradually low- 

 ering hills continues to the Brahmaputra. 



To the westward of the Khasia hiUs lie the Garrows, which 

 are lower, the maximum elevation being probably nowhere 

 more than three or four thousand feet. To the east, beyond 

 Jyntea or Jaintia, which is similar in general character to 

 Khasia, and will be included by us under that designation, 

 there appears to be a considerable depression in the range, a 

 large river with an open valley penetrating far to the north. 

 These hiUs have, however, not been explored by Europeans. 

 To the east of Cachar again there are lofty hills, inhabited by 

 Nagas, and also quite unexplored, except in one place, where 

 they were crossed by Grif&th in travelling from Upper Assam 

 to the Hukum valley, on a tributary of the Irawadi. 



Notwithstanding the enormous rain-fall and the great hu- 

 midity of the atmosphere, the higher parts of the Khasia hills 

 are generally bare of trees, except in ravines and occasionally 

 on northern exposures. This remarkable peculiarity is due 

 partly to the nature of the surface, and the free drainage, but 

 mainly to the removal of the soil by the heavy rains, and to 

 the furious winds which sweep over the level tops of the hills. 

 Wherever there is shelter, trees spring up at once ; and the 

 base of the mountains, and the deep valleys which penetrate 

 far into the interior, are clothed with dense forest. 



At the base of the Khasia the vegetation is tropical, and 

 the plants the same as those of Assam. The sheltered and 



