1840.] Granges Expedition into the Naga Hills. 965 



Leaving about 9 a. m., we crossed the great range, and after a very 

 fatiguing march, did not encamp on the Unurue or Desem river till 

 dusk of evening ; we this day reached a stream, three miles to the south 

 of Jykamee, the distance from that village to the base of the great range 

 being rather too far for the coolies. 



\5th February — Quitting at 6^ a. m. an hour's march brought 

 us to Jykamee. We encamped this day on the Desem river, at the 

 southern base of the Sumoogoding hill. 



We discovered the tea tree growing in the neighbourhood of camp 

 in a very luxuriant manner, the country is of the same description 

 of low hills, as found in the vicinity of Jykamee. 



19^^. Marched round the village, to avoid going through it, as the 

 Nagas seemed to have much objection to it, and met some Nagas from 

 other villages. 



20th. Leaving Pepamee, and proceeding for about a mile, we came to 

 some trees, in which I halted the party ; we encamped upon a small 

 stream about four miles from Pepamee. In the evening we observed their 

 beacons alight (on high hills) in all directions, which I found out 

 were signals of our position, and movements ; the number of beacons 

 burning at the same time, being the signal of our advance, retirement, 

 or halting place ; the path was very good, over a ridge of low hills. 



21 5^. Our progress was very slow, and although the distance to 

 Juppmah was four or five miles, we did not arrive there till 3 p. m. We 

 entered the village through a narrow lane, with a stone wall on either 

 side, and a bamboo trellis work over it, and a single plank of consider- 

 able thickness as a door. This village was a very old one, of about 

 300 houses, although report always augmented the number to 500 ; it is 

 composed of half Angamee and half Dewan Nagas. Some of their stools 

 or bedsteads were very large, cut out of a single tree, and they held 

 them in great esteem ; their iron instruments being of the most infe- 

 rior description, it must have taken them considerable time and 

 labour to cut out the trees. We found a great quantity of rice in 

 the jungle, of four or five different kinds. 



The Rengma river winds past the western foot of the hill this village 

 is situated on. On a hill on its right bank, bearing from Juppmah 

 55i is the village of Bephomee. The country about this is composed 

 of good sized mountains, though of much less altitude than those of the 



