336 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



miles from its mouth, a wide opening in the forest on the left bank, 

 through which a stream, in the rainy season, probably comes either from 

 the hills or from the Dibong. Along this day's route a number of otters 

 were observed ■ buffaloes, and deer, and wild ducks were numerous ; the 

 cry of the hoolloo, or small black long-armed ape, was constantly heard 

 — and the print of a tiger's footsteps were noticed. Some of the people 

 declared having seen the animal. 



On the following clays, the division of the river into numerous chan- 

 nels, and the occurrence of many shallows and rapids, rendered the 

 advance very inconsiderable. On the afternoon of the 12th, the river 

 presented three branches, two of which were found impracticable. In 

 order to enter the third, which appeared to be the main stream, it was 

 necessary to clear away a number of large blocks of stone, and employ 

 all hands to force each boat singly over the rapids, by which means an 

 advance of about half a mile was effected in about two hours. In the 

 course of this day's navigation, the action of mountain torrents on the forests 

 skirting the banks was strikingly illustrated. Besides the numerous water 

 courses tracked through the jungle, small clumps of trees were observ- 

 able, growing upon isolated masses of rock, which had been detached by 

 the passage of a torrent from the circumjacent surface. The sub-division 

 of a river near the hills, and consequent destruction of the forest, seems 

 the natural effect of the accumulation of the mountain debris, which, 

 choaking the beds of the torrents, forces them to seek new channels, and 

 spreads them annually in fresh directions through the woods. 



The progress of the 13th, was equally tedious and laborious, and two 

 miles and a half only were made with the greatest exertions. About 

 noon, direct advance was stopped by an impassible rapid, and the course 

 diverged through a channel to the left, which led again to the stream 

 above the fall, the banks of the river began here to contract, and the hills 



