70 



DISTANT VIKW OF IIOOKHOOM VALLEY. 



an extensive view is obtained of Hookhoom valley, bounding which 

 occurs a range of hills stretching E. S. E. and W. N. W. These 

 in the centre present a gap in which a river is seen running S. The 

 view to the E. is impeded by the trees on that face of the hill. The 

 valley is as usual one mass of jungle, with here and there clear patches 

 occurring, especially to the W. of S., but whether from cultivation 

 or not, I am unable to say. The Namlunai river is visible ; winding 

 excessively, especially to the E. S. E., it appears a considerable 

 stream with much sand : it passes out towards the gap above alluded 

 to, winding round the corner of the hills. 



During the 16th, my attention was particularly directed towards 

 Tea, which was said positively to exist. I obtained some of the bitter 

 sort, or Bunfullup, but the plant which was pointed out to me as tea 

 certainly was not, although resembling it a good deal. There is no 

 reason for supposing, that it exists on these hills, and if tea is 

 brought hence, it is I should think a spurious preparation. The soil 

 is in many places yellow, in many brick-dust coloured. If the Tea 

 existed in abundance, I must have seen it. 



The hills which confine the valley, at least those which are obvi- 

 ous outliers of the Patkaye range, are characterised by conical peaks, 

 and there is a bluff rock of good elevation to the W. S. W. £ S. 



March \7th. — Boiled water at 206°. Fahr. Thermometer in the 

 air 61°. Elevation 3270. Commenced the descent, which conti- 

 nued without interruption to the Loon-karankha, where we break- 

 fasted. The bed of this, which is a mere mountain torrent, is of 

 sandstone. Here Ceratostemma variegatum is very common, and has 

 larger, broader and more obovate leaves, than before observed ; Poly- 

 podium Wallichianum, a Begonia and Orchideae are common on its 

 boulders. Continued our course at first up a considerable ascent, 

 thence it was nearly an uniform descent. Crossed the Namtuwa, 

 along which our course lay for a short time. The latter part was 

 through low wet jungle, along small water- courses, till we reached the 

 Panglai Kha, along which we continued for some time. Reached our 

 halting place on the Namtuseek about 2 p.m." General direction 

 E. S. E. ; distance about ten miles. Noticed Podostemon Griflithia- 

 num, on rocks on the Namtuwa. My collector gathered one Daphne, 

 Acanthus Solanacea occurred very abundantly, corinfundib. lab 

 super postico, infer reflexo, laciniis bifidis. Low down observed the 

 usual Dipterocarpus, Uncaria and Kaulfussia asamica, Dracaena. Me- 

 sua ferrea occurred during the first part of the march. Noticed the 



