42 



MISHMEE MOUNTAINS. 



had played me the same trick as they had done previously, though not 

 to such an extent. Instead of each man having 20 days' provisions, 

 scarcely one had more than 5 or 6 : as they had 20 days' given them 

 in addition to that they would require on the road, it is obvious 

 they must have thrown much away. Were all the Gams disposed 

 to take one to Lama, it could not be done with Assamese coolies : 

 and, above all, Seerings or Ahooms are the very worst ; and al- 

 though often good sized men, they are very deficient in strength. 

 Nagas and Mishmees are the best, then Kamptees. 



I gave before leaving a packet of salt to Premsong, according I 

 suppose to their own custom of proceeding. Yesterday he went to 

 Roomling, Krisong's eldest son, and gained his consent. I mention 

 this to shew how active he is. He is a friend of the Dupha's,* and to 

 my surprise, told me he saw Capt. Hannay at Hookhoom, who gave 

 him a jacket, and tried to induce him to shew him the road to Sud- 

 diya. He is certainly the best of all the Gams, and appears to be 

 very liberal. 



Nov. 23rd. — Arrived at Deeling after a tedious march of 8 hours : 

 we did not traverse the two cliffs near the Lohit, but pursued a longer, 

 but more commodious cattle path : our Mishmees, however, prefer- 

 red the shorter one. Gathered Sabia, Martynioidea, Alsophila, Me- 

 nispermum at Paeen in fine flower. At Ghaloom's old site a large Eu- 

 phorbia fol obovatis, ramis 4 angulato-alatis occurs, and Cymbydium 

 giganteum in fine flower. En route hither I noticed the following : 

 Bauhinia, Hoya, Urtica gigas, Mucnna, Curculigo, Panax, foliis supra- 

 decompositis, Dalbergia, Laurus, Abroma, Lactuca exaltata, Uncaria. 

 Liegesbeckia, Megala, Podo-Molee, and a species subscandent of bam- 

 boo, internodiis vix cylindricis, gracilibus ; this is of great use where 

 it occurs, in assisting one's ascent and descent. 



Nov. 24th. — Left about 1 1 for Thuma-thaya : we first descended 

 the Dissoo ravine, then up a very steep hill, the top of which was cul- 

 tivated, then descended and crossed another stream, the remainder 

 of our march consisting almost entirely of an uninterrupted steep 

 ascent : during our progress we gained partial views of the Plains 

 * and the Naga Hills, but on crossing a high ridge on which I observed 

 Betula Populus ? Rhododendrum arboreum. The view to the East 

 and West was very fine. That to the W. embracing the greater 



* One of the most influential of the Singpho chiefs, whose influence at this 

 period kept Upper Assam unsettled. 



