Nov. 1850. ELEPHANT BOGGED. MUNNIPORE FRONTIER. 333 



is always played first, and at the end the spectators applaud 

 with two short shouts. Their ear for music, and the 

 nature of their dance, are as Tibetan as their countenances, 

 and different from those of the Indo-Chinese tribes of the 

 frontier. 



We had the pleasure of meeting Lieutenant Raban at 

 Silchar, and of making several excursions in the neigh- 

 bourhood with him ; for which Colonel Lister here, as at 

 Churra, afforded us every facility of elephants and men. 

 Had we had time, it was our intention to have visited 

 Munnipore, but we were anxious to proceed to Chittagong. 

 I however made a three days' excursion to the frontier, 

 about thirty miles distant, proceeding along the north 

 bank of the Soormah. On the way my elephant got 

 bogged in crossing a deep muddy stream : this is some- 

 times an alarming position, as should the animal become 

 terrified, he will seize his rider, or pad, or any other object 

 (except his driver), to place under his knees to prevent his 

 sinking. In this instance the driver in great alarm ordered 

 me off, and I had to flounder out through the black mud. 

 The elephant remained fast all night, and was released 

 next morning by men with ropes. 



The country continued a grassy level, with marshes and 

 rice cultivation, to the first range of hills, beyond which 

 the river is unnavigable ; there also a forest commences, 

 of oaks, figs, and the common trees of east Bengal. The 

 road hence was a good one, cut by Sepoys across the 

 dividing ranges, the first of which is not 500 feet high. 

 On the ascent bamboos abound, of the kind called 

 Tuldah or Dulloah, which has long very thin- walled 

 joints ; it attains no great size, but is remarkably grega- 

 rious. On the east side of the range, the road runs 

 through soft shales and beds of clay, and conglomerates, 



