A RAFFLESI A DISCOVERED. 35 



know it, although it must be a sufficiently striking object, the ala- 

 bastri before expansion are about the size of an orange. Went to 

 Ghaloom's house, which is of great length, built of bamboos, raised 

 high from the ground, divided into about twelve compartments, and 

 containing 100 men, women, and children. 



Nov. 1 Uh. — Left for Khosha Gams ; crossed the Lohit on a raft, 

 and left its banks at noon. Followed the river for some distance, and 

 then diverged towards the N. W. and reached Khosha at 3 p.m., 

 the march owing to the heat was very fatiguing. Found very few 

 plants ; noticed a flower of a Ternstrcemiacea nearly allied to the 

 genus Camellia, cor. rotat. lacin. reflexis, albis fauce carnea. stam. 

 00, epipet. anther, erectis-apice dehiscent, and of a large Hibis- 

 cus ; the Cselogyne of the Koond was also found. Two species 

 of Castaneae occur in these woods, one with very stout thorns to 

 its cupula, and not eatable fruit ; the other has long slender pric- 

 kles, and its fruit about the size of an acorn, is eatable, and not at 

 all disagreeable. On all the hills of any height with grassy tops 

 Composite are among the most striking forms. Areca parva 

 continues, Pentaptera, and Fici continue. Saccharum Megala very 

 abundant and fine. Cupuliferee are becoming more abundant. The 

 roofs of the houses which are built of bamboo, are covered with the 

 leaves of the Marantaceous genus — capitulis densis lateralibus culmis 

 1-foliosis. Buddlea Neemda and Callicarpa continue. 



Want of means forms the only limit to the number oi wives of a 

 Mishmee. A rich man who has at his disposal numerous cattle, 

 etc. will give 20 mithuns ,* but the wife appears to bring with her 

 slaves, etc. as a return. A poor man will get a wife for a pig. 

 Whatever the number of wives may be, each will have a separate 

 khetee, (field) and each khetee has a separate granary. All the wives 

 live in the same house; in fact, one house forms the village. 

 Theft is punished by a fine inflicted by a meeting of all the Gams ; 

 if the fine is not paid, or the offender refuses to pay, he is slain in 

 a general attack. Murder is punished in the same way, but by a 

 heavier fine : adultery against the consent of the husband, or at least 

 elopement, is punished by death ; if with the consent of the husband, 

 the delinquent is fined. There appears to be no regular law of suc- 

 cession : the favourite son succeeding without reference to age. 



Nov. \2th. — I went out for plants, and descended to the Paeen 

 rivulet, which is of small size : followed up its course some way, and 

 * Mithun is, according to the author, a peculiar species of Ox. 



