JOURNAL 
OF THE 
ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL. 
I 
Part II—PHYSICAL SCIENCE. 
No. I].—1879. 
~*~ 
VII.—Wote on the old Burmese route over Patkai vid Nongyang (viewed 
as the most feasible and direct route, from India to Ohina).—Ly 
8. H. Peat, Esq. 
(Received 12th March ; read 2nd April.) 
(With Plates IV, V, VI, and VII). 
Perhaps in no other part of the world can be found a parallel to the 
small and peculiar region immediately Hast of Assam, and that separates 
India from China. 
On each side of it we see a large Empire, numbering its people by 
hundreds of millions, densely located, and who have been for many centuries 
conspicuous for their industry and intelligence, and with records extending 
far into the past. 
Yet across this interval of some 200 miles only, we find little or no 
intercourse or trade. 
Undoubtedly towards the North and North-Hast, the difficulties of find- 
ing an outlet at any reasonable elevation are demonstrated. In most cases 
the routes must cross at least 10,000 feet or more, besides being proverbially 
«difficult. 
Assam has never to our knowledge been entered by any large force 
from the North East, or due East, and the only invasions, (excepting those 
»up the valley from the west) have been over Patkai, by the Ahoms and 
Burmese. 
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