A BOTANICAL TOUR IN THE SOUTH LUSHAI HILLS. 
333 
suffered from slight fever, and on reaching Fort Lungleh was obliged 
to lay up for a day or two. So practically nothing was collected on 
the land part of the journey to Lungleh. 
The writer was most hospitably received at Fort Lungleh by Mr. 
C. B. Drake-Brocivman, the -Subdivisional officer, and Lieut. Bailey, 
l.S.C., assistant commandant, the only Europeans, there. The writer 
then stayed at Fort Lungleh up to the 19th A'ppil^ when circumstan- 
ces compelled his return to Calcutta. The actual collecting period 
was thus reduced to about three weeks, of which one week was lost 
partly owing to very bad weather and a recurrence of the writer’s 
fever. 
Had it been possible for the excursion to have taken place earlier 
in the year, and had more time been available doubtless a better 
collection would have been got. 
The return journey was unfortunate from a weather point of view. 
The journey from Lungsin to Tuichong was made amid torrents of 
rain, quite precluding any attempt at collecting. The river journey 
from Demagiri to Barkhal was also done under the same wretched 
circumstances, in addition the dug-out running against a rock and 
partially capsizing in shooting the Utan Chatra rapids, so that what 
the rain did not wet the river effectually did. 
Next day the 24th April was spent at Barkhal, where the rain 
poured steadily down the whole day, in drying clothes and paper. 
Rangamatti was reached on the 25 ih April, Chittagong on the 
28th, and Calcutta on the 30th April. 
Special thanks are due to Major Shakespeare, C.I.E., Superin- 
tendent of the Lushai Hills, for allowing access to that region and 
for giving facilities for obtaining coolies and supplies. 
The South Lushai Hills are fprna^d of several parallel ranges 
running roughly north and^south between latitude* 22° and 24® N and 
longitude 92° to 94° EasL The altitude varies from about 2,000 
to 4,000 feet, with a few isolated peaks reaching 7,000 feet. 
The valleys are very deep with exceedingly steep slopes, covered 
with a dense impenetrable jungle of climbing palms, creepers, bamboos, 
etc., amongst which tow er lofty trees, the most conspicuous of which 
are huge Dipterocarps. 
The general features of the flora are practically those of the 
adjacent Burmese hills. Epiphytic orchids abound, chiefly species of 
Dendrobium and form conspicuous masses of colour on the trees. 
ScitamineoHS plants and aroids are very common, and the trailing 
strings of Dioscorea fruits w'cre very frequent. Amongst the 
commoner trees in addition to the Dipterocarps were Saurauja pund- 
uanaTFitf//., Schiroa WalUchii Chois\\ Duabanga sonneratoid' s Ha)n , 
