120 



REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT 



12th. Namtusseek. — Altitude 1099 feet. General direction ESE. 

 Distance 10 miles. Descended from Kuttack Bhoom, until we reached 

 the Loonkharankha, then ascended considerably. The descent then 

 recommenced, until we reached the Namtusseek. Heavy jungle 

 occurred throughout. Path occasionally difficult, becoming as we 

 approached the base of the range very wet. We crossed several small 

 mountain streams. 



General features of the hills. — The prevailing formation appears to 

 be sandstone, and connected with this we have rounded summits, not 

 attaining a great elevation, and a considerable depth of soil. The 

 lower ranges are throughout covered with heavy tree jungle. This 

 becomes excessively thick and wet along the water courses, which 

 are of frequent occurrence towards the base of the range, both on 

 the northern and southern sides. But from an elevation of 1000 

 feet to that of Yoomsan, a great change for the better takes place on 

 the northern face, the hills being covered with clay, and generally 

 not very high grass jungle, among which trees are scattered. This 

 character is particularly evident along both sides of the valley drained 

 by the Namtusseek of the northern side. The Patkaye is wooded 

 to its summit ; the jungle on the south side being much more humid 

 than that on the northern. Indeed on this face of the range, with 

 the exception of the Puthars on the Nam-maroan, scarcely more 

 than two open spots exist, and both of these are of small extent. 

 Of these one exists at an elevation of 5500 feet, and one at Kuttack 

 Bhoom. 



The paths although very often steep, are easy enough for coolies, 

 except during wet weather, when they become very slippery. With 

 some degree of preparation the worst places might be made passa- 

 ble for lightly loaded elephants, and this would be facilitated by the 

 soft nature of most of the rocks. The most difficult marches are 

 those which lie along the beds of the streams, and these, it has been 

 seen, are far the most numerous ; they are particularly difficult 

 for elephants, the boulders affording a very precarious footing to 

 these weighty animals. The difficulty is much increased by rain, 

 when even coolies find considerable difficulty in making any pro- 

 gress. Several elephants accompanied Major White as far as the 

 Darap Panee, and a small suwaree elephant, loaded with a light tent, 

 succeeded in reaching Yoomsan. The southern side of the range is 

 decidedly of a more difficult nature than the northern, and it is 

 in addition of greater extent : the highest point traversed is 5600 



