776 Extracts from a report of a journey [No. 154. 



four of those hills, average height from 500 to 600 feet, it is tolerably good 

 but jungle (grass and underwood) has again sprung up in it ; the bridges 

 and embankments then made by Captain Bigge, have given way, the 

 wood with which they were made, having rotted. Distance across 

 these hills about three miles ; having crossed these low hills, we came 

 again on the Diboo Panee river on the northern base of Summagoding, 

 and having followed it about three miles further, we came to our first 

 encampment on this river, coolies, followers, nay all of us, much fagged. 

 On my asking the coolies which route they preferred, they gave the 

 preference to the Naga route across the Summagoding hill. I am also 

 of opinion, that the latter route is preferable to foot passengers ; and 

 Captain Bigge's for elephants, horses and cattle ; the Naga route is 

 passable throughout the year, whilst the road made by Captain Bigge 

 is passable for only three months in the year when the river is low, and 

 the route can be taken along its bed. 



On my return from Raja-piama to-day, a Maun sepoy pointed out to 

 me some tea plants ; he took me up a nullah for about 200 yards, we 

 then came upon some high land, and on both sides of this nullah saw 

 the tea plant. On my asking him how he came to know this spot, 

 he informed me, that he had accompanied Captain Bigge in his late 

 expedition, and that they had encamped somewhere near here ; that he 

 came here searching for fuel and fell upon the tea ; the plants were 

 rather thinly scattered, but there were plenty of them round about in 

 the jungle, some of the trees were large, 20 feet high, and 4 to 5 

 inches in diameter. This nullah falls into the Diboo Panee river, on its 

 north side, and is about two and half miles from the southern base of 

 the Summagoding hill. 



1 5th February. — Started at 8 o'clock a. m., and arrived at Dhemapoor 

 at 11£ a. m. No Naga chiefs had arrived ; coolies I had left behind me 

 here, hard at work at the godown and stockade, grass for thatching 

 very scarce, and is only procurable about two miles distant from the 

 stockade. 



1 6th February. — Chiefs of the Mozoma and Bazepama tribes came 

 in to pay their respects, gave them some presents. 



17 th February. — As the Upper Rengmah Naga chiefs had not arrived 

 here at my calling, I propose going to Mohung, there to meet them, 



