CHAPTER XXIX. 



Churra, English station of — Khasia people — Garrow people — Houses — Habits 



Dress — Arms — Dialects — Marriages— Food— Funerals— Superstitions— Flat 

 of Churra— Scenery— Lime and coal— Mamloo— Cliffs— Cascades— Chamcerops 

 palm— Jasper-rocks — Flora of Churra — Orchids — Rhododendrons— Pine- 

 Climate— Extraordinary rain-fall— Its effects— Gardens of Lieuts. Raban and 

 Cave — Leave Churra to cross the mountain range — Coal, shale, and under- 



clay — Kala-panee river— Lailangkot — Lucidia Pinceana — Conglomerate 



Surureem wood— Boga-panee river— View of Himalaya— Green-stone— Age of 

 Pine-cones— Moflong plants— Co?>— Chillong mountain- -Extensive view- 

 Road to Syong— Broad valleys— Geology— Plants— Myrung— Granite blocks 

 — Kollong rock — Pine-woods— Features of country— Orchids — Iron forges. 



Churra Poonji is said to be so called from the number 

 of streams in the neighbourhood, and poonji, " a village ' 

 (Khas.) : it was selected for a European station, partly from 

 the elevation and consequent healthiness of the spot, and 

 partly from its being on the high road from Silhet to 

 Gowahatty, on the Burrampooter, the capital of Assam, 

 Avhich is otherwise only accessible by ascending that river, 

 against both its current and the perennial east wind. 

 A rapid postal communication is hereby secured : but the 

 extreme unhealthiness of the northern foot of the 

 mountains effectually precludes all other intercourse for 

 nine months in the year. 



On the first opening up of the country, the Europeans 

 were brought into sanguinary collision with the Khasias, 

 who fought bravely with bows and arrows, displaying a 

 most blood-thirsty and cruel disposition. This is indeed 



