400 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



It suffices now to say, that our visit was not attended with any 

 advantageous result ; they would not consent to our proceeding further by 

 land, and they assured us of the utter impossibility of our going on by 

 water. 



I seized a moment during the conference, when all appeared in 

 perfect good humour, to put questions about the course of the Dihong, 

 and could only learn that it comes from the west or north-west, but 

 the Abors of this place are evidently unacquainted with it beyond a very 

 short distance, since their country, or rather that of the Abors, which 

 they visit, lies away from the banks of the river in a northerly direc- 

 tion. Beyond the JEtor Abors, on the opposite bank of the Yamimi river, 

 are the Simong tribe, from whom the former receive the Lama goods. 

 The Reiga tribe are on the western side of the great river, beyond the 

 Past and Blizong tribes. Some of those present were of opinion, from 

 what they had understood, that both Regas and Simongs have but a short 

 distance to go to reach the Lama country. All agreed in affirming, that 

 the Dihong is not navigable, and that it would be absolutely impossible 

 to proceed along the banks. 



The Membu people promised to inform the Bor Abors of our arrival. 

 A hog was voted us by the council, and also a supply of rice, but 

 neither was given with that hospitable feeling, which marks the friendly 

 tribes of the Mishmis. It seemed as if they voted their gifts in the 

 necessary observance of a custom, and afterwards gave them with great 

 reluctance. These singular people acknowledge no other authority but 

 that of the " Raj"* or people generally, who make laws at the councils, 

 assembled in the morning, where every one has an equal vote — but 



* The similarity of this word to Rajah, renders it very liable to be mistaken. Captain Bedford 

 mentions their Rajah. 



