1845.] Report oj an Expedition into the Mishmee Hills. 481 



rupee's worth of these articles was demanded for every day's work, and 

 as I could not have proceeded without the assistance of the Mishmees, 

 I was obliged to agree to their very exorbitant demands. 



On the morning of the 4th, after a hasty meal had been despatched, and 

 the several loads adjusted, we quitted the spot we had occupied during the 

 night, and for some time ascended and descended the small hills that 

 line the banks of the Damai. After an hour or two we arrived at the 

 foot of the large range that bounds the view from the plains ; the ascent 

 was rather abrupt, and the path but a bare track up the face of the 

 mountain. By midday we reached a small level piece of ground, where 

 a little water was procurable ; and as the mountain air seemed to sharpen 

 our appetites, a few eatables that we had with us were devoured with 

 great gusto. 



By 4 p.m. we reached the summit, from which a splendid view of the 

 plains and the surrounding hills is visible : on the right are seen the 

 towering mass of immense mountains that form the country of the 

 Myjoo Mishmees ; and in the plain beneath, the prospect is only bounded 

 by the far distant horizon, within whose limits the endless sea of forest 

 that characterises this part of Assam is the only object that meets the 

 eye. From this point we again descended for a couple of hours, and as 

 the evening was drawing to a close, arrived at a small hill rivulet where, 

 as water is the principal requisite to be sought for in a place for encamp- 

 ing, I determined to spend the night, although nothing but the stony bed 

 of the stream was available to rest on. The weather being cold we 

 found our night's repose rather uncomfortable, and were glad when the 

 morning broke to arise and set about procuring some breakfast : this 

 being soon accomplished we again set out, but found the road worse 

 than the previous day, as it led over numerous landslips that in this part 

 are met with on every slope ; part was therefore over broken ground, and 

 every now and then we had to pass onward by means of single trees 

 that had accidentally fallen across the chasms that intersected the path. 

 As the greater part of this day's march was descending the mountain we 

 had ascended the day before, and the road improving as we advanced, 

 by 12 o'clock we entered on the scattered cultivation of Saloomgoom, 

 from which the Burhampooter is distinctly visible winding its tortuous 

 way around the foot of the hills beneath. As we approached the village, 

 here and there the houses of the Mishmees became apparent, and as 



