34 



MISIIMEE MOUNTAINS. 



stream at the base of the hill, on which Ghaloom's former house 

 stood, called the Dhaloom Basee. 



I thence proceeded over some nasty swampy ground with a few 

 low elevations until we reached Ghaloom's, which we did about 2 p.m. 

 A small spot was allotted to us some distance from the village, on 

 which we erected our huts. Ghaloom changed his residence to this 

 place, owing to the death of two of his people, which was attributed 

 to the unhealthiness of the former site ; but as might be expected 

 from the nature of the place he has chosen, he has suffered very 

 severely from fever since his removal. As soon as our huts were 

 built, Ghaloom and his brother Khosha visited us, preceded by the 

 hind quarter of a pig. Their appearance is somewhat better than 

 the ordinary run of Mishmees, but they are just as dirty. Khosha is 

 a little man, with a mahogany-coloured wrinkled face. Great atten- 

 tion was paid by their attendants to all they said, and Khosha him- 

 self is evidently the Demosthenes of the Mishmees. When interrupt- 

 ed, he commanded silence in an authoritative way. Krisong was not 

 present. Khosha declares that Rooling, the Mezhoo chief, is nobody, 

 and that Wilcox gave him his present unknown to them. The ac- 

 quisitions in Botany consisted of some fine Cyrtandraceae, a Cymbi- 

 dium, and some ferns. One of these Cyrtandraceae is very singular : 

 the runners are long, producing one stem with a very small terminal 

 leaf, and a very large flower. Afterwards this leaf enlarges, becomes 

 a large cordate Begonioid one, bearing from its bosom apparently 

 one or two Siliquse ; Pandanus Bambusa continue. The fine Quercus 

 is common, Megala, Podomolia, Triumfetta, Siegesbeckia. Cynoglos- 

 sum, Callicarpa, Urena, Rottlera and several other low tropical forms 

 continue. The Cymbidioid has pollena 4, incumbentia postice 

 aliquoties minore, glandula nulla ? 



Nov. 9th. — Halted. Went to the suspension bridge over the Lohit, 

 which is about 60 yards across, or double the length of the one 

 we crossed on the 7th, The passage by Mishmees takes two, or two 

 minutes and a half, requiring continued exertion the whole time, 

 both by hands and feet, as above described. Both banks are very 

 steep, yet the natives are so confident of safety, that of this bridge 

 only one cane is trustworthy. Bathed in the river, which is very 

 cold and deep, but comparatively quiet. 



Nov. 10th. — Went to the Lohit, gathered Cymbidium giganteum, 

 two or three ferns, and a Rafflesia in its several stages. I have not 

 however yet seen the perfectly expanded flower, the natives do not 



