INACCESSIBLE NATURE OF THE COUNTRY. 



31 



called Dilling. Our route consisted of the same fatiguing marching : 

 we passed over some hills, from which we had fine views. The first 

 gave us a fine sight of the Patkaye mountains,* S. E. of Upper Assam, 

 which reach apparently a great height. The second, of the plains of 

 Assam. The exact summits of all the hills are covered with a coarse 

 spicate Saccharum. On one we met with a Melampyracea. The Bo- 

 tany is improving greatly ; two species of Viola, two fine Cyrthandra- 

 cese occurring. I also noticed Sedgwickia again, and got abundance of 

 ferns, a Buddleia, and a fine Amaranthacea. Halted on a cleared ground 

 immediately under the Red mountain so plainly seen from Jingsha. 

 There is now no appearance of water- falls on it, but there are sever- 

 al white spots owing to slips : the brink or brim of this hill is woody, 

 but there is a considerable space covered only with short grass. 

 The strata are inclined at an angle of 45°. I here got two or three fine 

 mosses. All the Mishmees have the idea, that on some hills at least 

 rain is caused by striking trees of a certain size with large stones, 

 some hills are again free from this charm ; it was ridiculous to hear 

 them call out not to throw stones whenever we approached one of 

 these rainy hills. The people appear to get dirtier the farther we 

 advance. I saw plenty of snow on two high peaks, and had a peep 

 of the Lohit beyond Brahma Koond. Wallichia continues, as well 

 as Bambusa, Saccharum Megala. The kheties are either of rice or 

 Cynosurus or Ireia. Tobacco is not cultivated, but left to take care of 

 itself. Buddleia Neemda and wild plantain continue, the latter is pro- 

 bably a distinct species ; leaves subtis glauco niveis. Pandanus con- 

 tinues. The name of the Red mountain before alluded to, is Thu-ma- 

 thaya, the rivulet at its base is Tus-soo-muchee. Tus-soo Dee-ling 

 is the name of the place; a large mountain bearing N.N. E., is Sun- 

 jong-thaya. It is obvious that Dee-ling must be of some extent, as 

 my site does not agree with that of Wilcox. The view to the E. is 

 entirely limited to Thu-ma-thaya, and to the N. N. E., by Sun-jong- 

 thaya ; no B. pooter is visible, nor is Ghaloom's house. The snow 

 collects on the Thu-ma-thaya this month : the clearings for cultiva- 

 tion on the declivities of Thu-ma-thaya are called Chim-bra : the 

 houses, although at great distances from the village, are called Yeu. 



Nov. 6th. — We arrived at our halting place after a march of seven 

 hours, over a most difficult and fatiguing road : we skirted throughout 

 the whole time the base of the huge Thu-ma-thaya; I never saw a 

 worse road, if road it may be called — part of it lay over places where 

 * Afterwards crossed by the author in his journey into Burma. 



