202 



BOOTAN. 



Quercus, Bombax, Juniperus and Pinus, both cultivated. Aralia or 

 Panax, four or five species, Croton malvsefolium, Justicia, Adhatoda, 

 Peristrophe, Amaranthacese, Artemisia, Urtica urens? and heterophyl- 

 la, Pogostemon, Triumfetta, (these occupy the old cleared spots,) 

 Castanese sp. ? Artocarpus integrifolium, Erythrina, Sambucus ebulus, 

 Rubi, three species, Solanum farinaceum, Engeldhaardtia, Pandanus» 

 Leptospartion, Calamus, Nauclea, Euphorbia carnosa, foliis ligulatis, 

 Artocarpus chaplasha, the fruit of which is eaten, Phlebochiton 

 extensus, Sedgwickia cerasifolia, Callicarpa arborea, Porana, Randia ? 

 sugarcane, citrons, tobacco. 



The fauna contains two or three squirrels, one of which is the 

 small one of Upper Assam, Trocheloideus, the lesser Edolius or Drongo 

 minor. Mainas, two kinds, carrion crows, Bucco, Muscipeta flammea, 

 and one or two other species, Parus, two or three species, kites, large 

 tailor-birds, sparrows. The black-bird of the torrents, and the usual 

 water-birds, black pheasants ; bulbuls very common, Bucco barba- 

 tus, parroquets, barking deer. 



The temperature being 58° 6 1', water boiled at 208°. The meanof two 

 observations accordingly gives the altitude as 2, 1 65 feet above the sea. 



The number of houses is about 130, but these form two or three 

 detached villages. The population is considerable, and there is no 

 want of children. The people are stout and very fair, with ruddy 

 cheeks, but abominably dirty. Some of the men are six feet in 

 stature. We had one opportunity of witnessing their practice with 

 the bow, but only two or three of the dozen candidates were decent 

 shots. The mark was a very small one, and the distance 120 

 steps, but none hit it during the time we looked on, nor even the 

 circular patch of branches, on which the slab of wood of this form 

 was placed. The practice was accompanied with the usual proportion 

 of noise and gesticulations. 



There is very little cultivation on the hills around, so that this 

 people are, at least about here, evidently dependent on the plains for 

 their supplies. The cattle are a good breed, and totally different from 

 those of the plains. Ponies and mules are by no means uncommon ; 

 there are likewise pigs and fowls, both of which are abundant, and of 

 fine description. 



January \6th. — Every thing leads me to conclude that the Booteas 

 are the dirtiest race in existence, and if accounts be true, they are 

 equally deficient in delicacy. Although much beyond other moun- 

 tain tribes inhabiting either side of the Assam valley, in the structure 



