1839.] Lieut. Kittoe's Journey through the Forests of Orissa. 611 



continued in a south-east direction. At seven miles and one furlong I 

 reached the first perceptible ascent, and at nine miles and one furlong 

 reached the top of the first ghat which was tolerably steep, much 

 more so than necessary, as were the path to have an even ascent 

 it would be less fatiguing, but at its best it would be difficult for 

 wheeled carriages ; the path runs along the edges of the watercourse, 

 crossing occasionally from side to side, beyond this there is much 

 gentle ascent over good ground ; the second, third, and fourth ascents are 

 very steep, but of no great duration, there are also several descents. If 

 this ghat be adopted, the path must be judiciously managed so as 

 to wind down by the edges of the watercourses ; the greatest obstacle 

 is the rocky nature of four out of five of the ascents, and of three- 

 fourths of the whole distance ; the stones could be thrown aside, but 

 such as could not be removed could also scarcely be blasted, as the 

 rock is of the hardest quartz and granite; they might perhaps be 

 broken with sledge hammers and wedges. 



Nature offers a capital hint for protecting the inclined surfaces of 

 roads in the hilly tracts from being washed away and cut into furrows, 

 and in many instances completely destroyed, — it is the effect produced 

 by those trees which have fallen athwart the paths, likewise parallel 

 to them ; at these spots there are regular steps formed (as it were) and 

 the intermediate spaces are quite level ; whenever I have passed over 

 undulating lands (which are as ten to one) I have observed that paths 

 are less cut up and much better when there are fallen trees. 



The hills have a superstratum of stiff red marl, and many are culti- 

 vated to the very peaks ;* it has a lively appearance and bespeaks 

 industry, for great labour must be bestowed in clearing these lands. 



Tungoora is a large village surrounded with plantain gardens, it is 

 in the Lehra zemindaree, and is supplied with good water from 

 two strong springs flowing down both to the north and south sides of 

 the hill, several hundred feet below. The view from hence is very 

 grand but confined, owing to the trees. 



The jungle on this morning's march was the same as usual, rather 

 scanty but the trees very lofty, there are many wild mangoes along 

 the ghat, the fruit is small and extremely acid. 



The direction from the entrance of the ghat thus far, has been con- 

 siderably north of east. Mr. B 's road has never been surveyed, 



therefore the real direction is not known ; I should not be surprised at 



* From the specimens I have seen of the soils in which the tea plant grows, I should 

 think these tracts would prove favorable to its cultivation, I have already described 

 the climate.— M. K. 



