ASAM AND THE NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. 411 



river also goes by that name. The Khana Deba's country is at the 

 source of the above-mentioned eastern branch. The Lassa people, in their 

 way to the Lama valley, go up the lesser Dihong, and cross over snowy 

 mountains from its sources to those of the Brahmaputra. They occupy 

 one month from Lassa. They do not mention any other large river nearer 

 than three months' journey. 



Between the Dibong and the lesser Dihong is a high range of snowy 

 mountains, which prevents the Mishmis from knowing of the existence of 

 the lesser Dihong, excepting from reports. I must add, that this infor- 

 mation was not given in answer to hading questions. 



This gives a clue which was wanting to the story of an old Asamese, 

 now resident at Sisi, who was sold by the Mishmis as a slave to the Lamas 

 when young, and had contrived to make his escape by the route of the 

 Brahmaputra, hiding in the jungles by day and travelling by night. As 

 evidence of the truth of his general statement, we have the notoriety of 

 his captivity which led to his being brought to Mr. Scott, his acquaint- 

 ance with the Thibetan, shown by his knowledge of words which we 

 drew from a vocabulary, and his offer to accompany me as interpreter. 



I twice saw this old man at an interval of eight or ten months, and 

 having preserved in writing the names of all the places mentioned by him, 

 had a satisfactory proof of his sincerity, by comparing the last with his 

 former statement. His recollection, however, was not sufficiently clear 

 to enable me to lay down any new positions. 



He says, he resided with a Lama* and his wife, at the village Apraiva, 

 at the sources of the Brahmaputra, in the east, beyond the Mishmi country. 



* In tlie Asamese sense — a man of the Lama country, not a priest. 



