708 Flora of the Naga Hills. [No. 153. 



wind through the forests, we find forms similar to those found in the 

 ravines between the hills, while on the little hillocks near the foot of 

 the first range, and on the broken ground called khorkunee, we meet 

 with many plants that are common to the slopes. Still I met with 

 many plants which I have never seen in the plains, and some of those 

 which I have seen down here, are evidently not at home. 



The Naga Bhe, Gordonia integrefolia, Roxb. is often seen in the 

 plains, but on the hills it is much more common, and grows to a larger 

 tree. I met with it in abundance on every hill. 



The little ornamental flowering shrubs called by the natives Phoiiki 

 and Phootkola, (different species of Melastomse,) in the deep ravines 

 with hills of 3000 feet of elevation on each side, assume the character 

 of small trees, with stems from eight to twelve feet high, and three or 

 four inches in diameter. As our route lay for the most part through 

 ground which had lately been under cultivation I did not meet with 

 so large a number of species as I had previously calculated upon. 

 Could I remain with safety on these hills for three or four years, I 

 doubt not but I should reap a good harvest, but hurrying over them in 

 the manner we were compelled to do, very little could be done in 

 examining the Flora. I presume it would occupy an experienced 

 Botanist 10 years to explore the whole of the Naga Hills, from the 

 Booreedihing to the Dhunsiri, in a satisfactory manner ; none of them 

 having been hitherto visited by any Botanist. 



Leaving the banks of the Dikho on the 27th of January, at the spot 

 where in 1840 I collected some of the Namsang coal, and where 

 Mr. Landers subsequently collected a larger quantity on the part of 

 Government, we ascended the hills, passing over undulated ground 

 and low hills of various elevations. Arriving in the neighbourhood of the 

 coal measures, we passed up the bed of a very rugged water-course, 

 which though nearly dry now, must in the rains pour down its torrents 

 with a frightful velocity. Passing on to near the summit of the hill, 

 we encamped in a forest of bamboos, a little below the village of 

 Namsang. 



While rising the hill, I observed the following plants : Mesua ferrea, 

 Careya arborea, Ficus elastica, F. scabrella, F. species ? Dillenia speciosa, 

 Chaulmoogra odorata, Emblica officinalis, Artocarpus integrifolius, A. 

 Chaplasha, Xanthochjmus pictorius, Liristoma assamica, Guarea binecta 



