June, 1850. BASE OF KHASIA MOUNTAINS. PUNDUA. 265 



dilapidated bungalow: the inhabitants are employed in the 

 debarkation of lime, coal, and potatos. Large fleets of 

 boats crowded the narrow creeks, some of the vessels being 

 of several tons burden. 



Elephants were kindly sent here for us by Mr. H. Inglis, 

 to take us to the foot of the mountains, about three miles 

 distant, and relays of mules and ponies to ascend to 

 Churra, where we were received with the greatest hospita- 

 lity by that gentleman, who entertained us till the end of 

 June, and procured us servants and collectors. To his kind 

 offices we were also indebted throughout our travels in 

 the Khasia, for much information, and for facilities and 

 necessaries of all kinds : things in which the traveller is 

 more dependent on his fellow countrymen in India, than 

 in any other part of the world. 



We spent two days at Pundua, waiting for our great 

 boats (which drew several feet of water), and collecting in 

 the vicinity. The old bungalow, without windows and 

 with the roof falling in, was a most miserable shelter ; and 

 whichever way we turned from the door, a river or a 

 swamp lay before us. Birds, mosquitos, leeches, and large 

 wasps swarmed, also rats and sandflies. A more pestilen- 

 tial hole cannot be conceived ; and yet people traverse this 

 district, and sleep here at all seasons of* the year with 

 impunity. We did so ourselves in the month of June, 

 when the Sikkim and all other Terais are deadly : we 

 returned in September, traversing the Jheels and nullahs 

 at the very foot of the hills during a short break of 

 tine weather in the middle of the rains ; and we again 



those hills by native collectors were sent to the Calcutta garden (and thence to 

 Europe) as from Pundua. Hence Silhet mountains and Pundua mountains, 

 both very erroneous terms, are constantly met with in botanical works, and 

 generally refer to plauts growing in the Khasia mountains. 



