460 Notes on Ancient Temples and other remains [ Jun e, 



selves at the foot of a steep ascent of 80 Or 100 feet, up which we scram- 

 bled to a fine piece of table -land covered with splendid timber, amongst 

 which we observe the Jack, Toon and Tchaum. Here our guide, 

 who by the bye had never seen the Fort, said we had reached it, and 

 mentioned that the tract of table land covered with various fruit trees 

 extended inland to the foot of the Guroee mountain.* No vestiges of 

 architecture were visible however, and we were thus disappointed as in 

 the absence of any knowledge whatever as to localities, it would have 

 been too laborious an undertaking to explore such an extent of country. 

 It was agreed upon therefore to proceed for some distance along the 

 edge of the steep bounding the table-land on the left, in the hopes of 

 finding a road or path which might lead to a gateway, and perceiving 

 in our course one or two paths, well worn by wild animals in their pro- 

 gress to water, we passed down one of these, and were fortunate enough, 

 after turning and winding through the hollow ground formed by the 

 steep we had just left, and an opposite spur of the elevated land, to dis- 

 cover that a high rampart of earth crossed the opening towards the 

 plain ; crowning this, we found ourselves amongst bricks scattered about, 

 with a low wall running along the top of the outer edge, which on 

 nearer inspection proved to be an upper parapet overtopping the ram- 

 part, the lower portion showing a solid facing of hewn sandstone blocks, 

 of more or less height, according to the nature of the ground. 



This rampart ran in a direction about North West, and in the distance 

 of £ mile, which we inspected, the brick wall continued on the left, 

 sometimes to the height of five feet, loop-holed in several places, appa- 

 rently for arrows and spears, but more frequently in a very dilapidated 

 state from huge trees having taken root in the rampart, and wild animals 

 passing over it. At the distance of % of a mile, a spur of the table- 

 land touched upon the rampart and a brick wall crossed it, ascending 

 the spur apparently to the level land above ; here also must have been 

 a gateway or passage of some kind through the cross wall, but all had 



* Guroee Mountain, and also Geree, so called from a tribe of Mishmees inhabiting 

 fhe lower spurs. The Thi Guroee is North of Suddyah, and in a direct line about 20 miles 

 distant. The highest peak must be upwards of 8000 feet, being often covered with snow 

 in the cold season, and behind it are seen several snow-capped mountains of a higher 

 range. The Diggaroo and Dikrung rivers rise from the Southern slopes of this mountain, 

 and the former brings down those beautiful boulders of primitive limestone-marble which 

 supplies Western Assam with lime. 



