ASAM AND THE NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. 409 



councils amongst the Abor tribes. We were very much pleased with this 

 man, but could not get any thing from him either in the way of informa- 

 tion or assistance in our project. He refused to take us to his village, 

 on the plea that his authority would prove insufficient to protect us from 

 the unpleasant familiarities of his people. He presented some rock salt 

 from Thibet, in the shape of large crystals. I think that their possessing 

 this article at so short a distance from our side, is a collateral proof 

 that they cannot have to travel very far for it. 



We had little more success with the Bor Abors when they arrived, 

 though they seemed equally well inclined towards us with the Duku 

 party. They assured us that they could not venture to take us to their 

 villages without having prepared the people for our reception, as a very 

 hostile feeling existed, owing to our supposed detention of the Miris. 

 They promised, however, to exert their influence, and did not doubt but 

 they should be able shortly to send us down an invitation. They appear- 

 ed to me to be sincere in professing their inability to answer our inquiries 

 about the Dibong — they remarked that they were no travellers, and had 

 little curiosity about remote countries. Whereas we, on the contrary, 

 seemed very inquisitive in such matters — and it would therefore be infi- 

 nitely better that we should travel and gain, from actual observation, the 

 information we sought, as it could be but imperfectly acquired from those 

 who did not understand our purposes. They could only hold out hopes 

 of our being able to visit their own villages : they assured us that they 

 had no influence with the next tribes, and that we should certainly expe- 

 rience much difficulty in treating with them, and should we gain a foot- 

 ing amongst the Simongs or Regas, it would be but one step of moving 

 towards the accomplishment of our wishes. 



While the Bor Abors remained, we had a specimen of their skill in 

 shooting with the bow, which was not particularly creditable to them; 



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