12 



ASSAM, TEZPOOR. 



elated appearance. The examination of this specimen only strength- 

 ens me in my opinion derived chiefly from examination of those in 

 the Botanic Gardens, that these rings which certainly afford the age 

 of each branch, one being added of either sort every year, are not to 

 be distinguished in the stem below its division. So that after all. 

 Brongniart is only half-wrong, although he is ignorant of the sav- 

 ing clause. 



I may add, that we were on the hills about thirty-eight days, of 

 which seven and a half were rainy, a proportion of 1 in 5J. 



On the 2nd December, our party left Gowahatty for Suddiya, on 

 the morning of the 4th I proceeded in advance in Captain Matthie's 

 express canoe for Tezpoor, which place I reached on the evening of 

 the 6th, and at which I met with a most kind reception from Captain 

 Matthie, Principal Assistant to the Agent to the Governor General, 

 and in Civil charge of the district of Durrung. Tezpoor possesses 

 many advantages over Gowahatty, from which place it is about 120 

 miles distant, that is, following the river. It is situated on the banks 

 of what was once a portion of the Burrampooter, but which is now 

 nothing but a nullah, nearly dry at the present season. It is a com- 

 pletely new place,* Captain Matthie having arrived here about a 

 year since, at which time it was a complete jungle. Some small hills 

 run along the side of the nullah, on one of which Captain Matthie's 

 house is situated. The clearings have already reached to a considerable 

 extent, and there are two good roads for buggies. The great advan- 

 tage it has over Gowahatty consists in its freedom from fogs, which 

 evidently hug the Meekur hills on the opposite side of the Burrampoo- 

 ter, bearing about E. S. E. from* Tezpoor. It is perhaps owing to 

 the proximity of these hills that Nowgong until 10 a. m. appears 

 completely enveloped in fog, while all round Tezpoor it is complete- 

 ly clear. 



From this place the view of the Himalayas and of the intervening 

 Bootan hills is very fine. The chain is of considerable extent, and 

 presents three grand peaks, of which the most westerly one is the 

 largest. They do not appear very distant, and are distinctly seen at 

 this season at all times of the day. They are more soft and pictur- 

 esque towards evening, at which time the different shades are better 



* Although in former times it must have been of some note, the vicinity is 

 strewed with sculptured stones and columns, of which the modern buildings 

 constructed. These remains present the form and proportions of European Archi- 

 tecture, and exhibit considerable taste. 



