Description of a new Deer. 



403 



luxuriant abundance in every part of the country. Toon, 

 red teak, pines, and other gigantic trees with which Capt. 

 Pemberton was unacquainted, are found in the greatest 

 profusion on the hills to the South-east of Moneypore. 



Of the geological structure of this tract, Capt. Pember- 

 ton remarks, our knowledge is particularly incomplete ; the 

 prevalence of dense impervious forests, extending from the 

 summits of the mountains to their bases, has restricted ob- 

 servation to those portions that have been laid bare by 

 the action of torrents, and to some few of the most conspi- 

 cuous ridges. In that portion of the tract which extends 

 between Moneypore and Cachar, a light and friable sand- 

 stone of brown colour, and red ferruginous clay are found 

 to prevail on the lower heights. 



Sandstone seems to be the most prevalent rock in the 

 central ranges between Moneypore and Bengal ; with this, 

 coal-slate, and limestone occasionally occur. The northern 

 ranges between Moneypore and Assam are composed of 

 more compact rocks, and the great central ridge of this part 

 of the chain consists of hard grey granular slate, and on the 

 northern face of this chain, boulders of granite were found 

 resting on the inferior heights. These mountains are in- 

 habited, Captain Pemberton remarks, by fierce unconquered 

 tribes, whose aggressions on the inhabitants of the subjacent 

 plains have led in many instances to the payment of a 

 species of black mail, to procure exemption from their at- 

 tacks ; and even those who from among our own subjects 

 had ventured amongst their fastnesses, scarcely ever penetra- 

 ted beyond the first ranges which immediately overlook 

 the low lands of Bengal and Cachar. But a road is now 

 open from Bengal into the Moneypore valley, where there 

 is a British Resident. There are, however, only two in- 

 stances of Europeans having been permitted to cross the 

 northern range of mountains from Moneypore to Assam. 

 The first attempt was successfully accomplished by Capts. 



