1839.] Capt. P ember ton's Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. 209 



that about Nolbharee ; villages continued numerous as far as Dum- 

 Dumma. This is a small straggling place on the banks of a small 

 stream, the Noa Nuddee ; we were detained in it for several days, and 

 had the Booteas alone been consulted, we should never have left 

 it to enter Bootan in this direction. The place I found to be very 

 uninteresting. 



December 3\st. We left for Hazareegoung, an Assamese village 

 within the Bootan boundary. 



We passed through a much less cultivated country, the face of which 

 was overrun with coarse grassy vegetation. No attempts appeared to 

 be made to keep the paths clean, and the farther we penetrated within 

 the boundary, the more marked were the effects of bad government. 

 We crossed a small and rapid stream, with a pebbly bed, the first 

 indication of approaching the Hills we had as yet met with. The 

 village is of small extent, and provided with a Nam-ghur in which we 

 were accommodated : it is situated on comparatively high ground, 

 the plain rising near it, and continuing to do so very gradually until 

 the base of the Hills is reached. There is scarcely any cultivation 

 about the place. 



We left on January 2d for Ghoorgoung, a small village eight miles 

 from Hazareegoung ; similar high plains and grassy tracts, almost un- 

 varied by any cultivation, were crossed ; a short distance from the village 

 we crossed the Mutanga, a river of some size and great violence during 

 the rains, but in January reduced to a dry bouldery bed. There is no 

 cultivation about Ghoorgoung, which is close to the Hills, between 

 which and the village there is a gentle slope covered with fine sward. 



We entered the Hills on the 3d, and marched to Dewangari, a 

 distance of eight miles. On starting we proceeded to the Durunga 

 Nuddee, which makes its exit from the Hills about one mile to the 

 west of Ghoorgoung, and then entered the Hills by ascending its bed, 

 and we continued doing so for some time, until in fact we came to the 

 foot of the steep ascent that led us to Dewangari. The road was a 

 good deal obstructed by boulders, but the torrent contains at this season 

 very little water. 



The mountains forming the sides of the ravine are very steep, in 

 many cases precipitous, but not of any great height. They are 

 generally well wooded, but never to such a degree as occurs on most 

 other portions of the mountainous barriers of Assam. At the height 

 of about 1000 feet we passed a choky, occupied by a few Booteas, and 

 this was the only sign of habitation that occurred. 



We were lodged in a temporary hut of large size, some 200 feet 

 below the ridge on which Dewangari is situated ,- our access to that 



