1845.] Visit to the Hills near the Soobanshiri River. 259 



low hills around, — some partly cleared for the purposes of cultivation, 

 some entirely so, and now covered with the straw of the crop last 

 reaped, — appear in line contrast with the dark tints of the lofty moun- 

 tains of Moyur and Yaloo, and others more distant that surround it. 

 The inhabitants, men, women and children, far from evincing any signs 

 of fear, crowded about me as I passed through the village. The road 

 from this to Tema's village, which is about two miles distant and north- 

 west of this village, continues over low hills, many of which have been 

 cleared and are now fallow, and after a time will be again taken up. 

 Between the villages barricades are constructed in different places to 

 keep the Myttons from the cultivation when necessary. We followed 

 the windings of a stream called the Kutoo, and were led by it into a 

 pretty little valley comprising a level space of cleared ground of some 

 extent, watered by the Versing river which winds round the hill on 

 which Tema's village is built, and here we encamped ; Tema's village 

 within hail above us to the S. E., the river flowing from the N. W. 

 Here were assembled to meet me, besides the notables of the three 

 villages of Tema's, or the Pambottiah tribe, all the headmen of the 

 Torbottiah dewar. They* seemed to wonder much at my visit. What 

 could it portend ? and to be in some alarm ; but this soon wore off. 

 They describe their country as much better worth seeing than this. 

 The villages are larger, more numerous, and nearer to each other than 

 those of this dewar ; the nearest a day's march from this, about twelve 

 miles in a direction north by west. The villages are six in number, 

 and within hail of each other, on hills as Tema's and Bina's, and the 

 houses similarly fashioned ; their cultivation is more extensive, the 

 crops fewer, and more varied. They have asso, dhan, and hali; but 

 the latter is not planted out. They sow the seed as we sow peas. 

 They kept me talking till dinner time, and then all retired with 

 Tema, who had a grand feast, not less than eighty individuals were 

 entertained by him ; all that came to see me were invited, and I am 

 told his house was crammed: nor were we neglected, a fine fat kid 

 and fowls and eggs, yams and sweet potatoes and Indian corn were 

 supplied. Tema asked me if I would drink mhud, the spirit they distil ; 

 but this I declined, or doubtless a large supply would have been sent. 



* The Torbottiahs. 



