434 



The Physical Condition of 



[Oct. 



marked by certain changes in the soil, except perhaps in a single in- 

 stance.* 



We now continued our journey along a path extending through the 

 forest in the direction of W.S.W., occasionally approaching the banks 

 of the Debru river. The soil in the forest, is similar to that already 

 mentioned. Animals are very few, and consist chiefly of wild ele- 

 phants ; the forest indeed is too damp and shaded to afford a suitable 

 shelter to the animals of Lower Assam, and of the plains of India ; and 

 the elephant is perhaps the only creature among the larger animals, 

 who could procure sustenance in such a place. A new species of squir- 

 rel (larger than Sciurus maximus), which I have named S. bengmori- 

 cus, seems to be peculiar to this tract. Towards the close of the first 

 day's journey, we crossed a small clear stream running into the Debru 

 on our right j and indicating an elevation of the surface towards 

 the east. 



"We spent the night in a Singpho village called Cujudoo, and the 

 following day we continued our journey through the forest in a souther- 

 ly direction. Our path for perhaps five miles, extended along a 

 massive embankment, probably thirty feet high, and overgrown with 

 some of the most ancient trees in the forest. From this we pursued an 

 easterly direction, and after descending from the tumulus, found a 

 tree fern, which I believe proved to be of the same species as that 

 which had been previously found at Cherra-punji. The surface soon 

 became more elevated, and undulating ; but still composed of yellow 

 sandy clay. The streams then descended in an opposite, or N. E. 

 direction, running we were told into a river called the Maun ; while 

 those we crossed in the early part of the day, run S. W. into the De- 

 bru, proving that we had crossed a tract of forest, elevated herhaps 

 about 50 feet above the general plain, with a gradual, or almost im- 

 perceptible ascent, and descent, on each side, indicated only by the 

 direction of the rivulets. We then crossed the bed of a small stream 

 of clear water, passing over pipe clay ; from thence the white, or yel- 

 low sandy clay, over which we had passed ever since we entered the 

 forests, disappeared as well as all undulations ; the surface assuming 

 the ordinary character of flatness, to which we had been accustomed, 

 and was chiefly composed of clayey soil, sometimes blue and in places 

 yellow, but without sandy admixture. These appearances continued 

 for a few miles, until we entered the village of Nigroo, on the banks 



* I here allude to the western boundary of the upper colony of plants at Tingrai, 



