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Biographical Memoir of the late 



[No. 32, 



puted by the Supreme Government in company with Drs. Wallich 

 and M'Clelland to examine the vegetable productions of Assam and 

 more particularly to inspect the tea-plants said to be indigenous to 

 that province, on which he furnished a report of great value and 

 full of scientific research. Here he attracted the notice of Captain 

 Jenkins, Commissioner in Assam, who begged that he might be per- 

 manently attached to the Agency, and shortly afterwards, on the I5th 

 October, 1836, deputed him to explore the Mishmee mountains and 

 the valley of the Burrumpootra or Lohit, from which expedition, (a 

 sketch of which was printed in the VI. Volume of the Journal of the 

 Asiatic Society,) he culled a rich botanical harvest. He next proceed- 

 ed with Major White the Political Agent in Upper Assam to meet 

 certain Burmese Commissioners on the boundary of the two territories, 

 for the adjustment of various frontier disputes, but after two fruit- 

 less endeavours to accomplish this object, Major White relinquished 

 the attempt as hopeless. Mr. Griffith however determined to perse- 

 vere, and on the last occasion, in the early part of 1837, proceeded 

 alone from Suddya, into the Burmese territory, with the hope of join- 

 ing Doctor Bayfield, who had been directed to advance simultaneously 

 from Ava to the place of rendezvous, in company with the Burmese 

 officers. After numerous difficulties and dangers his perseverance 

 was rewarded by success. He met Doctor Bayfield, accompanied 

 him back to Ava, and returning thence by way of Rangoon with 

 despatches from the Resident, proceeded to Calcutta where he ar- 

 rived in June, just as the news of his assassination had been made 

 public, from official information transmitted to the Government two 

 months before. 



The embassy to Bootan mider Major Pemberton was on the eve 

 of departure. He was appointed to it as medical officer, but indefa- 

 tigable in the pursuit of knowledge, he proceeded in July, in advance 

 of the party, to complete his examination of the Kasyah Hills, after 

 having in the short interval preceding his departure, arranged his 

 collections, rich both in botanical and zoological acquisitions, and 

 drawn up an interesting memoir of his adventures for the Go- 

 vernment. He joined the embassy at Goalpara and continued with 

 it from the2lst December, 1837, when it set out from Gowahatti till 

 its close. His account of their proceedings is contained in a Jour- 

 nal published in the VHI. Volume of the Journal of the Asiatic 

 Society. 



In November, 1839, within four months after his return to Calcutta, 



