340 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



A few inconsiderable falls occurred, and the current of the river was rather 

 stronger than it had previously been found. The voyage was continued 

 up the river till the afternoon of the 22d, when it became too shallow for the 

 canoes to proceed. Some further distance was explored in a slight fisher- 

 man's boat, but the progress was inconsiderable, the water not being ankle 

 deep, Captain Bedford therefore returned to the Dibong. The Dikrong 

 contains several kind of fish of good quality, and in the forests, along its 

 borders, are found yams, superior to most of those cultivated, and several 

 other esculent roots. The orange also grows wild, the fruit is acid, but 

 not disagreeable, and the pulp is of a pale yellow, like that of the lime. 

 Amongst the trees of the forest, is one called Laroo-bunda, of which the 

 bark is used to dye cloth and nets of a brownish red tinge, the wood is 

 also used for making canoes. The Dikrong was supposed to be connected 

 with the Koondil, which is not the case : gold dust has been also, it is said, 

 found in the sand, which does not seem to have been the case in this 

 voyage. 



The 24th and 25th of December were spent in examining the eastern 

 branches of the Dibong, as far as practicable, and early on the morning 

 of the 26th the Survey was terminated at the mouth of that river." 



To Captain Bedford's account of the Dihong I can add little, but as 

 the mode of travelling has not been clearly explained I should endeavour 

 to describe it. I took with me ten Gorkhas of the Champamn Light 

 Infantry Corps, and embarked with fifteen days provisions, and my stock 

 of presents in several canoes, each made of a single tree, and the largest 

 capable of carrying ten men in smooth water. The more convenient size 

 for easy management in the rapids is a canoe fit to carry six, which is 

 perhaps a safer boat also than a larger. I did not adopt Captain Bedford's 

 plan of making two fast together as a raft, and consequently, though 

 through the awkwardness of the Sipahis, aboatwas occasionally overturned. 



