430 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



the hope of bringing on the poor Asamese. They rejoined us this evening, 

 and to our great surprise, were accompanied by one of the two men who 

 stopped on the Phiingan pass. He informed us that he had remained 

 until his brother expired, and that he had been four whole days without 

 food or fire. The other poor lad was found very near the place where we 

 left him, and was brought across the river, which he could not possibly 

 have forded alone, but he crept into the huts of our halting place, and 

 there laid himself down to die. We were surprised about ten at night 

 by a very sudden rise of the river, equal to three or four feet, accom- 

 panied by a rushing and loud noise : it came so unexpectedly, that the 

 people who had built their huts near the water had not time to remove all 

 their things : it subsided almost as rapidly as it rose. 



The next day, the path led chiefly along the edge of the water and 

 over steep and slippery rocks. Still an unvaried aspect of dark jungle. 

 The direction, since leaving Aleth, nearly due north. We crossed while 

 the river was one hundred yards broad, by wading, but with great difficul- 

 ty, for many, from weakness, were unable to stand against the current 

 without help. Lieutenant Burlton had his fever again at the time. 

 Shortly after, we re-crossed by the help of Sakos, which, from the rise of 

 the^ river, were nearly under water ; but here the sight of some new faces 

 gave us fresh alacrity, and we hailed our approach to a civilised country 

 with that joy, which those only could feel and estimate who had suffered 

 from fatigue and privation as we had. 



The Muluks and Khamtis who met us were extremely civil, and 

 welcomed us with every demonstration of good will. Beyond the first 

 crossing place, the country opens out into a narrow valley, which leaves 

 a small plain at each alternate bend of the river; none of these, however, 

 yet presented signs of habitation ; but leaving the right bank and passing 

 through a narrow belt of jungle, we entered on a cultivated plain of a 



