ASAM AND THE NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. 407 



the alarm of our approach ; so exactly does the note resemble that of a 

 deep-toned bell. 



We passed the mouth of a small rivulet named Shibot, and observed 

 that the beaten path there leaves the great river : our guides soon after 

 informed us, that we had arrived at the conclusion of our journey, and we 

 found, in fact, that the steepness of the mountains much increased since 

 we had left behind us those lower hills nearer the issue of the river to the 

 plains, was now grown very great, and a smooth perpendicular rock soon 

 presented itself to notice, fairly obstructing further progress. There was 

 not the slightest appearance of more favourable ground in advance, and if 

 we did move on by land, it must be by cutting our way through the 

 thickest cane jungles and underwood, in a place infinitely the more difficult 

 from its situation, or the steep acclivity of the face of the mountain. 



The breadth of the river was reduced at this point to one hundred 

 yards, and it was still mild and tranquil,*" but the form of the hills gives 

 rise to the expectation of immense depth. 



We had brought with us a small canoe, thinking it might enable us 

 to get past any very difficult place, and now we got on board and set out 

 to see whether the difficulties by water were equal to those presented by 

 the land. The river partook of the same kind of features as we proceeded, 

 the water's edge was bounded by smooth perpendicular rock, under which 



* The question immediately occurs noiv why we did not take a section of the river: we had 

 not the means, and the utility of providing them was not so obvious then. But we had taken Note 

 of every petty rivulet joining the Dihong from its mouth, a few rods, and were perfectly aware 

 that none of them contributed very sensibly to the quantity of water. Whatever the discharge of 

 the Dihong at its mouth, we had here the same quantity nearly — the entire river— a very simple 

 calculation shows us that — for the undiminished discharge of fifty thousand cubic feet per second, 

 and a supposed velocity of only three miles, the depth required is only thirty-seven feet. Mr. 

 Keaproth's objection to the size of the river, appears then not well founded. 



