344 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



village, with a view of learning from the neighbouring Mishmis something 

 more definitive about the Lama country, or, in short, to extend the field 

 of our knowledge, and turn to account any new opportunity that might 

 offer. 



In this excursion I was accompanied by Lieutenant Burlton. He 

 had, on a former trip, reached Sonpura, about twelve miles east of Sadiya, 

 where he had found an effectual bar to his further progress in large boats 

 in the shallows and rapids. 



In the following passage, which appeared in an extract published in 

 the Government Gazette of 21st September, 1826, from Captain Bedford's 

 Journal of a Voyage up the Brahmaputra, the Editor, and perhaps the 

 Public, seem to have formed notions of this river not altogether correct. 

 " The Brahmaputra, although of considerable breadth and depth in some 

 places, is hence constantly broken by rocks, separated into different 

 small branches by islands of various extent, and traversed by abrupt 

 and numerous falls." The nearest hills to Sadiya, by the course of the 

 river, are upwards of forty miles distant, whether those near the Kund or 

 those on the Digaru, a principal tributary on the north bank, and in this 

 extent the river does not intersect any rocky strata, but to the distance of 

 thirty to thirty-five miles from the first ranges, the torrents of the rainy 

 season bring down an immense and yearly accumulating collection of 

 boulders and round pebbles of every size, which, blocking up the river, 

 are the causes of its remarkable feature of separation into numerous and 

 diverging channels, and of the difficulties of navigating it. Many of the 

 stone beds have been so long permanent, that they are not only covered 

 with grass jungle, but have a few trees growing on them. The extreme 

 banks, both of the north and south, are clothed with a dense tree jungle, 

 which is rendered almost impervious by rank underwood. The general 

 direction of the stream is from E.N.E. to W.S.W. 



