960 Granges Expedition into the Naga Hills. [No. 106. 



most luxuriant manner, uncared for, and unknown ; in the rice fields 

 it springs up in all directions in fine bushes, from the roots of old trees 

 which had been cut down by the Nagas in clearing their lands for culti- 

 vation ; the leaves of the plants found in the rice fields were much broad- 

 er, and of a deeper green colour (some leaves tinged with yellow) than 

 those obtained in the forest. It grows in many places on the low hills 

 in this neighbourhood, and appears a very hardy tree. The greatest size 

 which the trees I saw attained, were from two or three inches in dia- 

 meter and fifteen or fifty feet high ; the jungle causing them to run up this 

 way to get at the air and light. The country it is found in, is very like 

 that about the environs of the falls of the Jumonah, where there is but 

 little doubt that tea would grow equally as well as it does on the 

 Naga hills. I am informed by a Burmese who was formerly on the 

 frontiers of China, that in the districts of Taongbine and Taongmah, 

 the Polong inhabitants cultivate nothing else but the tea tree, and that 

 from one description alone four varieties of tea are obtained, which he 

 described in the following manner — First kind, from the buds, called in 

 Burmese Shuahee. Second kind, when two leaves only have shot forth, 

 called Kugengoo. Third kind, when five and four leaves have shot forth, 

 called Kugeyenka. And the fourth kind when in five and six leaves, 

 called Kyeot. The latter is drank only by the common people. In ap- 

 pearance it is exactly the same as that found about Jykamee. The hills 

 on which the Polong people live, are much higher than those we disco- 

 vered the tea on in the Naga hills. 



Passing over these low hills, we came to a small plain, on which we 

 found ginger growing wild. It was quickly dug up by the Shans for 

 medicinal purposes, who said it was to be found growing in the same 

 state, only in the Singhpo country. Crossing several feeders of the 

 Desem or Unurue river, we ascended to the village called by the 

 Munipoorees, Ookusuha, and by the Nagas about this part, Terriamah, 

 or by the Nagas on the Cachar hills, Umponglo. The villagers, as 

 they did last time I passed their village, offerred us no opposition, but 

 showed us a place to encamp upon, and assisted to clear away the 

 jungle for that purpose, for which I gave them presents. There is no 

 good ground near the village for encamping on, but before ascending 

 to it there is a small stream on which Captains Pemberton and 

 Jenkins formed their camp, which is a good place for halting at coming 



