ASAM AND THE NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. 321 



communication between the Diking and Lohit near the spot where the 

 Burl Diking' now meets the latter, I never could satisfactorily learn. 



But to return from this digression, Captain Bedford chose the 

 Buri Lohit, as it presented novelty, and left me to retrace Ensign 

 Wood's steps towards Rangpur: he completed his survey; but I met with 

 an unfortunate accident in the progress of mine : about half way from 

 Bishandth, my map and field book, with the greatest part of my pro- 

 perty, were lost by the sinking of my boat. Captain Bedford after- 

 wards continued his route towards Sadiya, making a more accurate survey 

 than Lieutenant Burlton had the means of doing; and before the expira- 

 tion of the month of June, he had surveyed not only the whole distance 

 on the great river from Bishandth to Tenga Pcini, but having accompa- 

 nied Captain Neufville on the expedition against the Singfo Chiefs, 

 he also added a hasty survey of the Noa Diking. 



Soon after my arrival at Dikho Mulch in April, Colonel Richards 

 permitted me to accompany a party of the 46th Regiment, which was to 

 proceed up the Discing river to Borhdth, to protect the Asamese of the 

 intermediate district in advance of Mwigput, from incursions of the 

 Singfos, who had lately, in considerable strength, made a very daring and 

 successful incursion close in the neighbourhood of the force. 



After passing Bel Bciri on the Discing, I found the banks of the river 

 clothed with an impenetrable tree forest, and the distances I was com- 

 pelled to estimate in time, guided by the experience I had of the progress of 

 my boat at those places where it was practicable to use my perambulator. 

 About five miles by the river below Borhdth, we first encountered the 

 shallow rapids formed by the accumulation of the pebbles brought down 

 by the stream, and further progress in Bengali boats was impossible ; 

 but one of the Asam guides offered to conduct me to Borhdth; and after 



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