294 KHASIA MOUNTAINS. Chap. XXIX. 



plantations, bnt which, I am assured, are not planted ; on 

 the other hand, however, Mr. Yule states, that the natives do 

 plant fir-trees, especially near the iron forges, which give 

 employment to all the people of Monai. 



All the streams rise in flat marshy depressions amongst 

 the hills with which the whole country is covered ; and 

 both these features, together with the flat clav marshes 

 into which the rivers expand, are very suggestive of tidal 

 action. Rock is hardly anywhere seen, except in the 

 immediate vicinity of Kollong, where are many scattered 

 boulders of fine-grained gneiss, of which are made the 

 broad stone slabs, placed as seats, and the other erections 

 of this singular people. We repeatedly remarked cones of 

 earth, clay, and pebbles, about twelve feet high, upon the 

 hills, which appeared to be artificial, but of which the 

 natives could give no explanation. Wild apple and birch are 

 common trees, but there is little jungle, except in the 

 hollows, and on the north slopes of the higher hills. Coarse 

 long grass, with bushes of Labiate and Composite plants, 

 are the prevalent features. 



Kollong rock is a steep dome of red granite,* accessible 

 from the north and east, but almost perpendicular to the 

 southward, where the slope is 80° for 600 feet. The 

 elevation is 400 feet above the mean level of the surrounding 

 ridges, and 700 above the bottom of the valleys. The south 

 or steepest side is encumbered with enormous detached 

 blocks, while the north is clothed with a dense forest, con- 

 taining red tree-rhododendrons and oaks ; on its skirts 

 grew a white bushy rhododendron, which we found 

 nowhere else. The hard granite of the top was covered 

 with matted mosses, lichens, Lycopodiums, and ferns, 



i This granite is highly crystalline, and does not scale or flake, nor is its 

 surface polished. 



