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REPORT TO TUB GOVERNMENT 



2. From Nhempean to Nidding. — Direction SSE. Distance 4^ 

 miles, course along the Namtoroan, thence up the Saxsaikha. 



3. From Nidding to Kulieyang. — Direction SSE. Distance 13 

 miles, country covered either with tree or high grass jungle. Passed 

 a deserted village, Thilling Khet. 



4. From Kulieyang to Isilone. — Direction SW. Distance 10 miles, 

 country rather more open. Puthars are of common occurrence ; pass- 

 ed a small village, Damoon. 



5. From Tsilone to Meinkhoong. — Distance 17 miles, course at first 

 along the Namtunai,* country open, consisting of grassy plains ; 

 several nullahs occur. 



6. From Meinkhoon to Wullabhoom. — Direction SE. Distance 13 

 miles. Course over plains intersected by tree jungle, subsequently 

 up the bed of the Nempyo-kha. 



Nature of the Country. — The valley of Hookhoong, or as the 

 Burmese call it, in allusion to its amber mines, Paeendweng, is of 

 small extent. Its greatest diameter is in the direction of E. to W.f 

 its southern termination being within a few miles from Wullabhoom. 

 It is surrounded on all sides by hills, the highest of which are 

 towards the NE. and E. none however would appear to exceed 6000 

 feet in height ; and from their appearance, I imagine they are wood- 

 ed to their summits. The lowest hills are those which form the 

 southern boundary, and these scarcely deserve the name. From 

 Kuttack-bhoom a fine view of the valley is obtained ; it is here very 

 narrow, and does not I should think exceed 25 miles in breadth. 

 The features of the country are in a striking degree similar to those 

 of Upper Assam, that is, it presents a plain surface intersected fre- 

 quently by belts of jungle, the parts at the base of the boundary hills 

 being exclusively occupied by heavy jungle. The general elevation 

 of the plain above the sea may be estimated at about 1000 feet, so 

 that it is several hundred feet above the level of Sadiya, But 

 although this is the case, the valley of Hookhoom undergoes the 

 same changes during the rainy season as Assam, the greater part 

 being during that period under water. 



Of the Climate it is perhaps presumptuous to give any opinion : it 

 is however by no means so cold as that of Upper Assam. In April 

 the daily range of the thermometer was very considerable, from 60° 



* Which we forded a few miles below Isilone ; depth of the ford from two to 

 four feet. 



f In this direction the valley is nearly 65 miles in length. 



