1845.] tying between the Diko and Dyang river. 837 



On the 23d we started at 6-45, a. m. and passing through Kaboong 

 at 8-15, and Durria at 9-35, reached at 10-40, our halting place, on a 

 stream called Durria Panee, between Durria and Rangagaon. The 

 road throughout this march was bad, and had been made worse by wet 

 weather ; it rose to Kaboong by the side of a precipitous hill, with 

 scarcely room for the footing of a single person. From Kaboong to 

 Durria it is pretty level, but narrow, and through dense reed jungle. 

 The descent to the Durria Panee, is by a precipitous path of the same 

 description. 



On the 24th we moved about 1\ a. m. and passing through Ranga- 

 gaon and Kergaon, and between Sunkah and Teelagaon, encamped 

 about 3 p. m. on a small stream under Sonaee, at a distance from it of 

 about half a mile ; this march was a fatiguing one, from the slippery 

 and muddy state of the road, which would have been tolerably good 

 had not rain fallen. The ascent to Rangagaon is steep ; between it and 

 Kergaon, the road is level, it then descends gradually to a stream which 

 is crossed three times at short intervals. On leaving this, there is a 

 fine wide road up an easy ascent to Sunkah, and from thence the road 

 lay over undulating hills, to our encampment. 



We were halted on the 25th, and I received visits from the Chiefs of 

 Rangagaon, Kergaon, Seeka, Khoragaon, Talagaon, Sonareegaon, and 

 Teelagaon. I also took the opportunity of going up to Sonareegaon 

 and Teelagaon, the two largest of the Lotah villages. They probably 

 contain about 4,000 inhabitants each. The other Lotah villages are 

 comparatively small. 



The Chief of Nowgong brought to my notice the aggression I have 

 alluded to in para. 36th. There is no doubt that an incursion had been 

 lately made, in which one of the Nowgong Nagas was killed, and an- 

 other wounded ; but it is doubtful what tribes were concerned in it. The 

 Chief of Nowgong accused the Nang Chang and Pengsa Abors, but ad- 

 mitted that it could scarcely have happened without the connivance of the 

 Sonaree and other Lotah Chiefs. A reference to the map which Mr. Bed- 

 ford has prepared, will shew that if these Chiefs had been so inclined, the 

 attacking party would in all probability have been cut up on their retreat. 

 Nowgong is visible from Sonaree, and also from Teelagaon, and as 

 these villages would be instantly aware of the attack, and could imme- 

 diately communicate with Teelagaon and Sunkah, had they turned out 



