ASAM AND THE NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. 367 



enough to spread a blanket, could be found, and with great labor and 

 perseverance my people scraped away a part of the hill's face, where the 

 trunk of a large tree, acting as a support to the ground behind it, favored 

 the operation, and over my bed-place, as the sky looked theatening, I 

 had a few branches placed as a shelter. 



A new scene opened on us when we surmounted the next ridge. We 

 gained a much more extensive view, but much of its grandeur was lost on 

 the hill side by the clouds enveloping the mountains, depriving us of a 

 sight of their summits. On our east we were glad to see low green hills, 

 with patches of cultivation, and here and there an assembly of three or 

 four houses : beyond a deep wide dell sunk, of which the bottom was 

 hidden, but on its opposite side a large mountain rose from an extended 

 base and hid its head in the canopy of dense vapours. The chasm of the 

 Brahmaputra could be seen extending to the north-east, but its crooked- 

 ness limited the view and closed it abruptly. 



On the side of Asam, the Jbird's-eye view was extremely beautiful. 

 The mountains beyond the Dihong were distinctly visible, yet distant as 

 they were, the undefined horizon rose far above their level, intersecting the 

 plain — the silver river here and there exhibited its bright white light, and 

 on the right the bases of the high northern mass were seen one beyond 

 another projecting out into the level surface of the wide plain: hovering 

 between us and the depth below, were white curled clouds in innumerable 

 little patches. 



While standing on the ridge, the clouds which had looked threatening 

 began to annoy us with a shower, which soon encreased to a heavy fall of 

 rain ; and anxious as we were to move on, or at least obtain good shelter, 

 we were compelled to take refuge in a small field hut, built for the accom- 



