10 
[No. 1, 
S. E. Peal — Visit to the JYaffd Hilts. 
via Nazira to Jaipur, and here so covered by jungle and bamboo as to be 
wholly impassable. It is usually considered the boundary line between us 
and the so-called Naga territory. 
The land then descends a few feet, and the river Tiolc was seen 
ahead at a very picturesque little bend, making a capital foreground, as it 
splashed over the boulders and ran among the snags, the hills behind rising 
clear and blue. The swash of the water was quite a pleasant sound to us, 
so long accustomed to these muddy streams. After crossing it, the road 
lay through a fine piece of high land, and soon after entered and went along 
the bed of a small stream. We here dismounted ; for the bed of the stream 
afforded a good path, as there was but little water, and consisted of sand 
and pebbles. Blocks of petrified wood lay about in profusion, and so 
good that the first piece I took up, I had mistaken for real wood. 
Quartz pebbles were plentiful, but the rock on all sides was sandstone. 
In some places the traffic had worn down the rock into a narrow passage, 
where only one at a time could pass, and also into holes and steps, very 
well for Nagas to grip with their bare feet, but slippery and unaccommodating 
to thick-soled boots. To this narrow gorge succeeded an open tract close to 
the foot of the first hill, part of which had been cultivated by Nagas a few years 
ago, and had now relapsed into rank grass, as U'lu, Borata and Hamoru, with 
a few trees here and there, and would in another few years be forest again. We 
halted here to let the elephants come up : the path in several places, having 
been obstructed by bamboo, had to be cleared a little for them. After 
another steep ascent, we reached the head of the pass, or lowest point in this 
first range, which here runs parallel with the valley. 
The range of view extended from Jaipur in the east round by the hills 
on the ‘ North bank,’ (or continuation of the Himalayas) which were 
beautifully distinct, and then as far west as Cherydo and Nazira. Both 
the hills we were on, and those bounding the north, presented a strong 
contrast to the plain we had just left. The latter seemed as flat as it 
was possible to be, literally a sea of jungle forest, an enormous dead level. 
The smallness of the area under cultivation surprised us more than 
any thing : it did not look one per cent. The Potars I could easily recognize, 
Burasiilf, Nagahat, Bhagmorial, Borhoh, Tyrai, Tinikuria, Rohona Potar, 
none were missed ; yet they were but little green streaks, hardly noticed in 
the general view. With binoculars I could make them all out, even my 
bungalow houses. The amount of waste land is enormous. The Brahma- 
putra was not visible, though to be seen at times they say ; we searched also 
in vain for Sibsagar ; the distance perhaps was too great, though it must have 
been within our horizon line. 
While we were enjoying the prospect, the chief brother of the Rajah 
made his appearance with some of his people, and seemed quite delighted, 
