PANDUA HILLS, NEAR SILHET, IN BENGAL. 505 



covered with fine pasture and flowers, but rocky— and the ravines filled with 

 trees and shrubs — I can almost fancy myself on the top of Bannerdown ! 

 The range of hills runs east and west. The view over the plain is most 

 extensive. I should think the eye, at one glance, must take in a semicircle 

 of fifty miles at least — Chatak and Silhet are visible, and the course of the 

 Surma to a great distance. 



Thursday 20th. — Started at half-past five, and at half-past eight 

 reached Surarim, the first village — passed over a coal region, the coal 

 cropping out of the ground — road tolerable so far. Here iron-smelters 

 reside — 'entered one of the forges, the bellows are curious, and are worked 

 by women, who stand on the top, and move them with their feet ; 

 the furnace is made of clay, hooped with iron : the ore is broken 

 into small pieces, and put into the furnace with charcoal — the iron 

 melts and runs out at the bottom, it is then taken up and cut into 

 large lumps for exportation to the plains. It is very good, and is used 

 for all purposes in this part of India. The country is bare and open, and 

 the rocks of sandstone. The iron ore is collected in the streams below. 

 Proceeded along the edge of a mountain, the path not two feet broad, and a 

 tremendous precipice yawning beneath. The view of the valley and distant 

 glens and mountains is most sublime — descended through a beautiful glen 

 amidst tall strait trees, with numerous flowers and shrubs, and soon reach- 

 ed the first stream — crossed on stones — a beautiful spot. Ascended to 

 the top of the opposite hill ; the road very rugged and steep ; the valley 

 altogether is the most picturesque and beautiful I ever saw, — large masses 

 of rock, the strata, perfectly horizontal, stand out from amidst the foliage, 

 while hurled beneath are huge fragments having the strata perpendicular. 

 Reached the top of the hill about eleven ; from hence the road is tolerable. 

 Reached the top of the " Zeber Pahar" and looked down on the Kdla and 

 Safed rivers — a glorious view — on the right a beautiful water fall, the 

 source of the former river. Crossed the Kala Paul. Reached the Safed 



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