342 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



two from the surface threatening our frail bark with instant destruction. 

 In the case of any accident happening, good swimming would avail but 

 little. 



My shelter at night was such a small paul tent as could be stowed in 

 the canoe, and the men either slept without or collected sufficient grass 

 and reeds to build themselves a slight protection from the dew or rain. 



I did not note anything very remarkable in my passage up, unless it 

 be the state of the left bank. About six miles below, where the river 

 emerges from the hills, its direction is suddenly changed from E. to SS. 

 W., and from that corner the forest marking the ancient bank recedes 

 from the edge ; whence, lower down, it is seen at a considerable distance. 

 It returns again to the bank of the river, ten miles below the bend. 

 Within the extent thus marked by a semi-circle of trees, the ground 

 is high — higher by several feet than the river now rises in the highest 

 floods, but it is evidently an alluvial deposit, being almost entirely sand. 

 Within it there is one insulated patch of tree forest. The Miris declare 

 that the great flood left it in this state ; their villages, which were utterly 

 destroyed, were situated within this same space, and certainly the appear- 

 ance I have described is highly corroborative of their assertion. I halted 

 at Shigdru Ghat, opposite to Captain Bedford's old mooring place. 



The MenMi people had notice of my arrival, and I soon saw two or 

 three of their Chiefs, accompanied by another, who was said to have rank 

 among the Bor Ahors* They seemed to be averse to it, yet gave their 

 consent to guide me to their villages, and I felt confident of being able to 



* Abor is an Asamese word ; they call themselves Padam. A signifies privation, and bor the 

 contraction for a verb, signifying to submit to, or become tributary. Thus there are Nagas and 

 Abor Nagas — i. e. independent Nagas. Bor is bara, great. 



