20 GEORGE D-S-DUNBAR ON 



other and rare flowering shrubs mark the altered conditions. The tree fern has 

 disappeared, and the orchids and the small ferns are no longer the species found 

 nearer the plains. 



Along the foot of the hills the dark intensity of shade born of a choking 

 mass of tropical vegetation writhing and struggling for light must be seen to be 

 realized. 



In the intermediate zone wild fruit trees including the mango, lichee, various 

 nuts, yellow and red raspberries and blackberries all grow. 



A water creeper, known locally as panilot, is commonly found along the frontier. 

 This is a large creeper with a corrugated and cork-like bark. Water comes freely when 

 it is cut in lengths. Another interesting plant is a creeper called Gamini by the Assam- 

 ese and Asi-koni by the Abors (who must have borrowed the name from the Plains). 

 It has a pinkish core and is said to cure snake-bite, the dry plant being effective 

 for years afterwards. I found the plant in the jungle near Pasighat. 



The Dihang carries down immense tree-trunks torn from the forests of 

 Pemakoichen and Tibet. Of these trees incomparably the finest is the cypress. 

 Mr. A. J. Harrison, CLE. , of the Mekla Nadi Saw Mills, to whom Iamindebted for this 

 information, tells me that he has found a cypress trunk with a diameter of 7 feet. 

 Other trees that float down the Dihang are the pitch, red, and white pines. The first 

 has been known to measure four feet, and the others three feet in diameter. 



From about the middle of November till the end of January in normal years the 



climate in the hills is exceedingly pleasant by day, if some- 

 what cold at night ; this clear and bracing weather is 

 broken about the new year by a short spell of rain. During February and March rain 

 may be expected. At the beginning of March the atmosphere loses its clearness and 

 mists and clouds prevail. Rain sets in early in April with an occasional clear day 

 during the month affording a fine view of the snows. By the beginning of May the 

 steady rise of the main rivers and the filling up of the mountain streams becomes 

 marked. But, whilst April is generally rainy, May is a fine month as a rule. By the 

 middle of June rain has made the country difficult to traverse. The rivers begin to 

 subside in October. Although snow may occasionally fall on the highest features near 

 the plains, it is not believed that a regular fall is experienced much south of Simong, 

 excepting, of course, the high peaks above Damroh. The hurricanes that blow down 

 the gorges are a noticeable feature especially during the Spring. 



The Abor paths, which are none too good near the plains, improve noticeably a 



little further to the north, where the main highways con- 



Communications, Roads. # _ 



nect the larger and more prosperous communities. In the 

 Dobang country the steeper clay slopes were sometimes found to be stepped. 

 In the Sipu valley transverse and longitudinal sleepers greatly improve the heavy 

 clay roads, and the streams in that prosperous valley are spanned by excellent 

 bridges. The paths high up the Dihang were also found to be improved by step- 

 ping. It has been noticed throughout these hills that the different villages are 

 definitely responsible for the maintenance of the communications between them. In 



