316 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



as the chief object to which his attention should be directed. He was 

 to endeavour to unravel the mystery in which was enveloped each notice 

 or tradition respecting its fountain head by proceeding up its streams 

 as far as the influence of the neighbouring force, or the safeguard of a 

 detached escort might permit. 



We arrived at Goalpara, on the frontier of Asam, in the latter end 

 of January, 1825, immediately after the capitulation of the Burma force 

 at Rang pur, and we were then eager to join the Head-Quarters in full 

 expectation of an attempt being made to advance towards Amarapura. 

 We were already making anxious enquiries respecting the source of the 

 Brahmaputra, and we were given to understand that the Asamese per- 

 sisted in a common declaration that it rises in the East beyond their terri- 

 tories. We were told of a cataract, which imagination perhaps, rather 

 than report, founded on respectable information, long continued to 

 magnify into a splendid fall of the whole river from the bordering ridge 

 of mountains. 



Mr. Scott,* indefatigable and ardent in the cause of scientific 

 research, had in the meantime, on arriving at Rangpur, caused Lieutenant 

 Burlton to be detached, to survey the river beyond as far as practicable ; 

 but there no longer existed such extreme doubt about the direction and dis- 

 tance of the navigable part of its course. The Natives knew well that 

 the boats of Bengal could not pass more than one day's journey beyond 

 Sadiya; (in Lat. 27° 48' Long. 95° 40') they spoke confidently (and their 

 information could no longer be doubted) of the Brahmakund, the origin 

 of the river, being situated in the East ; and, indeed, they had presented 



* Ensign (now Colonel) Wood's Survey reached no further than Rangpur, and he leaves the 

 space beyond a perfect blank. He accounts for the paucity of his Geographical information beyond 

 the mere line of the river, by the difficulties he laboured under in holding intercourse with the 

 Natives. 



