PUNUKHA. 



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was well known. The Sepoys' lines were transported hither not by 

 Bhooteas but by our own people. In addition the people are in 

 many cases insolent, and it was only after a peremptory message to 

 the Deb, stating what the consequences would be of such a system 

 of annoyance, that we got any assistance. 



April 3rd.— We have heard nothing of the Mutaguat. It appears 

 that the country is unsettled now. The old Deb having possession 

 of Tassisudon, and the people here declaring they will stop all supplies 

 if the Deb does not, according to custom, repair at the usual period 

 to Tassisudon. A Deewan here, who has held office under four Rajahs, 

 says, that the present truce is owing to the hot weather ; Bhooteas 

 only admire fighting in the cold season, in conformation of which, he 

 says that in the cold season the contest will be renewed. There 

 will then be an additional bone of contention for the present. Nor 

 should I much wonder if the Paro Pillo then comes forward and takes 

 the Debship and all away. The Deewan's account of the past fighting, 

 places the Bhooteas in a most contemptible light : it appears that 

 when they fire a gun, they take no aim, their only aim being to 

 place their bodies as far as possible from the weapon ; the deadly 

 discharge is followed up by the deadlier discharge of a stone. At 

 plunder they are more adroit. 



The following plants may be found about this place; Ligustrum, 

 Salex pendula, Valeriana orolifolia, Campanula linearis, senecionidese, 

 Viola, Jasminum, Rosea, Conaria, mangoe one tree in the gardens, 

 Citrus two or three species in ditto, Jubrung, Diospyros, Acorus, 

 Veronica, Ranunculus, Sclerossophalos, Alopecercus, Agrostides, 

 Bombax, stunted weeping cypress, Pinus longifolia, Punica, Dipsacus, 

 Potentilla, Potamogeton 2, Hyperia japonica, Lysimachia, Chenopod. 

 Ajuga, Anisomales. 



Birds — great kingfisher, diver snappet, white-pated rumped chats, 

 no ouzels. Part of the gardens extend from the palace up the river to 

 the village; the breadth is fifty to seventy yards, the length 200. 

 They are surrounded by a dilapidated stone fence. Although an 

 Assam malee or gardner resides in them, they are kept in miserable 

 order : the soil seems good, the trees flourishing, mangoe, Diospyros, 

 Jubrung, oranges, citrons, pomegranates, are the principal trees. The 

 south side has a streamlet running along it outside the fence, for the 

 supply of water. This streamlet abounds with Acorus Calamus. 



April 9th. — Our interview with the Deb took place. We dismount- 

 ed at the boards over the streamlets above mentioned, and then 



2 o 



