346 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



is attached to others rising in height. Those on the opposite bank of the 

 river appeared not more than ten miles distant, and on the angle a little 

 E. of N. we were assured that the Kund was situated. All that we had 

 added to our stock of knowledge, was the certainty of the Brahmaputra 

 leaving the hills, where its exit had been pointed out from a distance, 

 and by passing in an easterly direction, south of the great line of snowy 

 peaks, we had ascertained that there is no material break in them ; but 

 the weather would not permit the contemplation of the splendid scene 

 which is opened in the cloudless skies of the winter months. 



We learned that the Lama country, on the banks of the Brahmaputra, 

 was but fifteen days distant, and the upper part of the Irdwadi (whence 

 the Khamtis emigrated to this side,) about the same, but our provisions 

 were nearly exhausted, and we saw that we were not likely to procure any 

 supply here. 



We saw several Mishmis, wild-looking but inoffensive (rather dirty) 

 people. The dress of the labouring men being as scanty as that occasionally 

 vised by Bengalee boat-men, and perhaps not quite so decent, scarcely 

 deserves that name. The richer have coats of Thibetan coarse woollens, 

 generally stained of a deep red, and sometimes ornamented with white 

 spots, which are preserved from the action of the dye by tying. The 

 most remarkable article of their equipment is the ear-ring, which is nearly 

 an inch in diameter, made of thin silver plate, the lobes of the ears 

 having been gradually stretched and enlarged from the age of childhood 

 to receive this singular ornament. A pipe, either rudely made of bambu 

 or furnished with a brass bowl, imported from China, through the inter- 

 vention of the Lamas, is never out of their mouths, and women, and 

 children of four or five years of age, are equal partakers of this luxury. 

 The men are generally armed with a spear or straight sword. 



