KUJOO TEA LOCALITY. 



13 



developed. The degrees of ascent of the Bootan hills are well 

 shewn ; the hills forming the lowest range being of no considerable 

 height. It is at once obvious, that the ascent into Bootan from this 

 place would occupy several days. 



The view to the S. and S. S. W. is barren enough, and is com- 

 pletely flat ; the country presenting nothing whatever but high grass, 

 with an occasional peep of the river. That to the north is, owing to 

 the Himalayas, very striking and picturesque. 



Cultivation is carried on to a great extent about Tezpoor, and 

 the district is populous, although few villages are to be seen, as 

 they are all concealed among trees. Paddy is the principal grain 

 cultivated, and this is carried on in low places, which appear on 

 a casual examination to have been originally beds of rivers. 

 Captain Matthie however tells me, that many of these have abrupt 

 terminations and commencements, such may have been old jheels. 

 Sursoo, opium, and sugar- cane are likewise cultivated, especially the 

 former. 



The whole land indeed, with the exception of the rice-places and 

 the evidently old beds of the Burrampooter, are much more elevated 

 than the land round Gowahatty. Both Tezpoor and Durrung are con- 

 sequently less damp, and more healthy than the above-mentioned 

 place. In fact, as a residence I would infinitely prefer Tezpoor to 

 Gowahatty. With regard to the shikar, (shooting) both large and 

 small game abound. Tigers are frequent as well as bears. Buffaloes 

 are to be seen on the churs (islands) in large" herds. Pea-fowl and 

 jungle-fowl abound, as well as water-fowl ; floricans and partridges, 

 both black and red, are by no means unfrequent. 



Upper Assam, Jan. \5th. — We arrived at Kujoo, a rather large 

 village of Singfos, and within half a day's journey of which the 

 tea is found in its native state. This is the first Singfo village I 

 have as yet seen, and is situated on the skirts of a plain of small ex- 

 tent, and covered to all appearance by extensive grass jungles,, among 

 which trees are interspersed. The houses are not numerous, but they 

 are of large size, and are raised in the Burman fashion on piles from the 

 ground. Within one, many families are accommodated. The people 

 themselves are fair, much like the Burmese, but still quite dis- 

 tinct. The male dress resembles the Burmese much ; the females is 

 more distinct, consisting chiefly of a sort of gown ; and whilst 

 tattooing is confined to the males in Burma, it here appears to 

 be indulged in chiefly by the ladies ; all the legs I saw during the 

 day, being ornamented with rings of tattoo. The men are a stout, 



