6 



CHURRA PUN J EE. 



the most varied and picturesque forms ; they appear to be the head 

 quarters of Cyrthandracese, of which we found a noble species with 

 the flower of a Martynia growing among the tree-ferns. They are 

 very rich in ferns and mosses, of which last near the tree-ferns I ga- 

 thered four species of four genera without moving a foot. The cliffs in 

 which, or at the foot of which the coal is found, bound. the Churra 

 cantonments to the Westward. These are chiefly calcareous. The 

 entrance to Churra lies between this and the precipice at Moosmai. 

 Very few animals of any description are to be seen about Churra. I 

 have seen one small species of deer, about half as large again as the 

 mouse- deer of Mergui, and one young flying squirrel of a greyish 

 black colour, with a very bushy tail. Leopards are, they say, not un- 

 common. Tigers do not generally come so high. Of birds, I mean 

 about Churra, there are several species of hawks, and their old 

 companions crows and swallows ; but I have seen no sparrows, which 

 is singular enough. There is one beautiful species of jay, with crimson 

 orange beak and legs, and a pretty king- fisher; but, except perhaps 

 in the valleys, birds, I should say, are very scarce. With respect to 

 shooting, scarcely any is to be had ; wood-cocks are found in the dells 

 about Churra, but sparingly. I have seen only one snipe and one 

 quail. 



Regarding the natives, I have little to say. They are a stout- 

 built, squat, big-legged hill tribe : the women in regard to shape being 

 exactly like their mates ; and as these are decidedly ugly — somewhat 

 tartarish-looking people, very dirty, and chew pawn to profusion — they 

 can scarcely be said to form a worthy portion of the gentler sex. They 

 appear to be honest ; but that is a quality which, from the example of 

 their European lords, they are said to be losing fast. They have no 

 written character ; every thing being transmitted by tradition, and per- 

 formed by the interchange of tokens. They drink like fish, and ma- 

 nufacture a bad kind of arrack, the pernicious effects of which were 

 experienced by the European invalids when the Sanatarium was in 

 existence. They pay respect to their dead by the erection of a sort 

 of kairns and large erect slabs of sandstone rounded off at the upper 

 end : of these, I believe, they put up three or five to each friend, accord- 

 ing to their means and, probably, rank. The Churra people culti- 

 vate nothing but a little cotton, and perhaps a species of Eleasine, 

 They depend upon the plains for their support and supplies, and this 

 is good management since rice at Terry a Ghat is sold at 70 or 80 

 seers a rupee. Their hire is, considering the cheapness of their food, 



