448 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



According to promise, a specimen of the tea-tree was brought to me 

 from one of the neighbouring low hills, it was a full grown one, that is, about 

 five feet high ; the leaves were coarse and large, and not numerous. Their 

 mode of preserving it is to drive the leaves when fresh, by strong pressure, 

 into a bamboo, and some salt, I think, was added. Several presents were 

 offered me of things which would have been deemed curious, but I could 

 not accept them, as I had not sufficient means of carrying even those 

 things which were absolutely required. 



On taking leave, all our friends accompanied me to some distance 

 from the village, and the Raja's brother, called the Palanseng Gohain, 

 was deputed to see us properly provided, at the Moolook villages, with a 

 store of rice. 



I observed on the return, that the hills between the Irawadi and 

 Namlang, at least those on the road, are of mica slate : at the base, near 

 the Khokhao rivulet, I saw some of the blocks of soapstone, which they 

 employ for culinary vessels ; it appeared to be Nacrite, it is extremely 

 sectile, and is said to bear the strongest heat uninjured. 



At Ndmbak, on the 31st May, we, for the first time, had an opportuni- 

 ty of observing some lunar distances, which, however, were not very satis- 

 factory, as clouds interrupted us frequently at the moment, and prevented 

 our getting corresponding altitudes in the afternoon for time, also the lati- 

 tude of Ndmbak, was obliged to be inferred from that of Khalang. Plains, 

 partially cultivated, extend to the Khalang villages, and about them there 

 is an extended patch of fine rice fields. There are two villages, each of 

 about twenty houses. The people are short muscular men, dressed in a 

 very inferior style to the Khamtis. We were persuaded to halt one day, 

 while a party went forward to cut the path. Of Lieutenant Burlton's 

 men, who had been left at the first Mulluk village, that they might 



