14 



ASSAM. 



rather fine race ; free, easy, and independent, and great admirers of 

 grog in every form. 



During our journey hither, and indeed en route from Kujoo Ghat, 

 we passed over a clay soil and through a dense jungle, comparable to 

 which I have seen but little. Our direction has been nearly south 

 from the above place. The jungle consisted chiefly of trees, here 

 and there large patches of bamboo or tobacco occurring : there was 

 but little underwood. Among the trees the most gigantic was a spe- 

 cies of Dipterocarpus, probably the same with that I have gathered 

 on Pator hill, Mergui. We picked up likewise very large acorns 

 with a depressed lamellated cap, and two fruits of Castanea, one 

 probably the same with that from Myrung. But of all the vegeta- 

 tion, that of ferns is the most luxuriant and most varied. 



Jan. \6th. — This day we gave up to the examination of the tea in 

 its native place. It occurs in a deep jungle to the south of the vil- 

 lage, and at a distance of about three miles from it. Our route thither 

 lay through first a rather extensive grass jungle, then through a 

 deep jungle. We crossed the Deboru once on our route ; it is a 

 mean and insignificant stream. 



Nothing particular presents itself in the jungle until you approach 

 the tea, on which you come very suddenly. This plant is limited 

 to a small extent, perhaps to 300 yards square, the principal 

 direction being N. and S. It grows in a part of the jungle where 

 the soil is light and dryish, and throughout which, ravinules are 

 frequent, due, Mac. tells me, to the effect of rain dropping from the 

 heavy over-shadowing foliage on a light soil. In addition to this, 

 small mounds occur about the roots of the large trees ; but chiefly 

 around bamboos, which are by no means unfrequent. This, however, 

 is of common occurrence in all bamboo jungles. The underwood con- 

 sists chiefly of Rubeacese, a small Leea, Cyrthandracese and Filices, 

 Polypodium arboreum, Angiopteris orassipes, and a large Asplenium 

 are common. Among the arbuscles are a large leaved Tetranthera a 

 Myristica, Anonaceee, Paderioidea fcetidissima, foliis ternatis; stipulis 

 apicee subulata, 3-fidis, etc. And among the forest trees are a 

 vast Dipterocarpus, the same we met with en route to Kujoo, Dillenia 

 speciosa, etc. Piper and Chloranthus are likewise not uncommon. 

 There is no peculiar feature connected with the existence of the tea in 

 such a place, and in such a limited extent. We were fortunate 

 enough to find it both in flower and fruit, owing to its site ; its growth 

 is tall and slender, and its crown at least that of the smaller, very 

 small and ill developed. Large trees are rare ; in fact, they have been 



