7A S. E. Peal—Wote on the old Burmese route [No. 2, 
that the best*site could be found, all is now forest, and the route line will 
have to be re-discovered ; there can however be little doubt that it crossed 
Patkai close to this point, and probably at less than 2,500 feet above the 
sea level, and say 2,000 feet on the spot. 
The approaches to Patkai at the part indicated, present no insuperable 
difficulties on either side ; undoubtedly a strip of hilly country extends for 
some distance north and south, parallel to the main range or ranges, but 
the country on the northern flank consists of tolerably low hills and rolling 
land, and on the other side, it seems to be repeated between Digumpani 
and the Turong. 
The paths on that side, in fact, are now confined mainly to stream-beds 
between which they cross low spurs; the latter is characteristic of the 
route between Loglai and Namyung, where it goes. by the Kaisu, Namlip, 
Yungsim, and Yungmoi, to the village of Numying in the Hukong, or 
Dinoi, valley. 
It is unfortunate that ever since our taking possession of Assam most 
works that allude to routes between India and China, treat the passage of 
these ranges as an almost insuperable obstacle. 
Excepting by Pemberton, and latterly Mr. H. L. Jenkins, it is generally 
looked on as a subject hardly worth discussion, or investigation. 
It is taken for granted that there is no good, or even fair, route from 
Assam vié@ Hikong to the Shan States, and that the Patkai is simply an 
impassable.barrier, whereas the truth is that the more the matter is investi- 
gated the more likely it appears that this old route will turn out to be not 
only the best, but perhaps the only available trade-route out of upper. 
Assam, by which we can get anywhere Hast. 
From the summit of Patkai, near where the old route crossed, the 
view south-west is across a rather large triangular valley having a sheet of 
water in it called “ Nongyang” several miles long, and a wooded island 
towards the eastern extremity. The “ Nongyang River’ falls in from the 
west after a course of 12 or 14 miles, mainly between two high and contin- 
uous ridges, each called Patkai, that were crossed by Drs. Griffiths and 
Bayfield, and which river has generally been considered the boundary between 
Assam and Burma at this part. After passing through the lake the river 
flows out east into the Loglai, or Laklai, going south and east to the 
Turong. 
On the south, Digam Bim rises very conspicuously beyond the 
Nongyangpani ; it is probably not less than 3,000 to 4,000 feet high, the 
surrounding hills north and south being 2,000 to 3,000, with water-courses 
and passes at perhaps 1,000 feet above the sea level. 
Beyond Digam Bum lie the first Singphti villages in the Hikong 
