78 S. E. Peal—Wote on the old Burmese route. [No. 2, 
such an object in view, asa route joining the two largest empires of 
the East, it behoves us to look ahead. 
The difficulties in connexion with a good trade route from India to 
China vid Patkai and upper Burma are not physical ones, as has hitherto 
been supposed; the only real obstacles are political ones, which would 
vanish, the moment Chinese and Burmese jealousy was overcome. 
The obstacles to trade, in fact, are all confined to one tribe or race, 
the Singphis or Kakhyens, who inhabit the hills between Assam, Burma, 
and China, and by a state of tolerated anarchy, effectually prevent peaceful 
intercourse. 
Until some central authority is recognized, and joint action taken, it 
is not easy to make head against these turbulent clans ; an alliance for their 
suppression, would at once solve the Indo-Chinese route question, vid 
Assam. * 
APPENDIX. 
The following few extracts from the diary of Mr. A. J. Peal serve 
to corroborate the remarks made by Pemberton before quoted, as to the 
line of route. 
“ December 6th, 1869. We had great difficulty to get the men to 
start, and were not off till noon, crossing soon after a couple of low hills, 
due south of the village (of Namphuk), we struck the Namrip again and 
eventually camped 8 or 4 miles up its bed. 
“7th. Continued up the bed of Namrip, and subsequently the Nam- 
bong, camping at mouth of the Nanki. 
“8th. Marched up the bed of the Nanki after boiling water at 2114° 
thermometer at 56°, and commenced the ascent of “ Patkai’”’ at 11°30 a. Mm. 
reaching the summit at 2 Pp. M., after a hard climb. Boiled water on the 
top at a temperature of 208°, thermometer 66°. We camped at the first 
water on the southern slope at about 400 feet down, and had a fine view 
of the Nongyang lake and also the Brahmaputra. 
“9th. We boiled water ere starting at 208}°, thermometer at 55° 
descended pretty easily and rested at the ford of the Nongyang river at 
11 o’clock, route EK. S. HE. Subsequently crossed a spur of Digam Bim 
nearly as high as Patkai, camping at a small stream half way down the 
other side, course S. E. and tortuous, say 14 miles. 
“10th. Started about 9 a.m. and by 10°30 reached the Digampéni, 
crossing and re-crossing several times, and after ascending a low ridge came 
suddenly on the Loglai (or Loklae Kha) of which we had a fine view. 
* The greater portion of this note was written in 1872, 
