290 KHASIA MOUNTAINS. Chap. XXIX. 



Chillong hill, the culminant point of the range, about six 

 miles north-east from Moflong bungalow. This hill, 6,660 

 feet above the sea, rises from an undulating grassy country, 

 covered with scattered trees and occasional clumps of 

 wood; the whole scenery about being park-like, and as 

 little like that of India at so low an elevation as it is pos- 

 sible to be. 



I visited Chillong in October with Lieutenant Cave ; 

 starting from Churra, and reaching the bungalow, two 

 miles from its top, the same night, with two relays of 

 ponies, which he had kindly provided. We were unfor- 

 tunate in not obtaining a brilliant view of the snowy 

 mountains, their tops being partially clouded ; but the 

 coup d'ceil was superb. Northward, beyond the rolling 

 Khasia hills, lay the whole Assam valley, seventy miles 

 broad, with the Burrampooter winding through it, fifty 

 miles distant, reduced to a thread. Beyond this, banks of 

 hazy vapour obscured all but the dark range of the Lower 

 Himalaya, crested by peaks of frosted silver, at the 

 immense distance of from 100 to 220 miles from Chillong. 

 All are below the horizon of the observer ; yet so false is 

 perspective, that they seem high in the air. The moun- 

 tains occupy sixty degrees of the horizon, and stretch 

 over upwards of 250 miles, comprising the greatest extent 

 of snow visible from any point with which I am 

 acquainted. 



Westward from Chillong the most distant Garrow hills 

 visible are about forty miles off; and eastward those of 

 Cachar, which are loftier, are about seventy miles. To the 

 south the view is limited by the Tipperah hills, which, 

 where nearest, are 100 miles distant ; while to the south- 

 west lies the sea-like Gangetic delta, whose horizon, lifted 

 by refraction, must be fully 120. The extent of this view is 



