April 24th.—­Continued our course, and arrived at Bamoo about 5.5 P.M.; the greater part of the journey extended through the Kioukdweng, or defile, in which some terrific places occur, one in particular known by two rocks which are called the Elephant and Cow.  Passed several small villages before we made our exit from the K. dweng:  all inhabited by Poans.  Between this and Bamoo the country along the river is truly magnificent, and is well inhabited.  The largest village contains about 70 houses; at least seven or eight occur, between the points above noted.

The Kioukdweng is a remarkable and an awful object.  The greatest breadth of the river while confined within this defile does not exceed 250 yards, and in all the bad places it is contracted to within 100, occasionally 50.  From the enormous rise of the river, which, last night alone amounted to an increase of ten feet, the passage is one continued scene of anxiety.  In the places above referred to the river rushes by with great velocity, while the return waters caused on either side by the surrounding rocks, occasion violent eddies and whirlpools, so as to render the boat unmanageable, and if upset the best swimmer could not live in these places.  The rocks are serpentine and grey limestone, presenting angular masses which project into the stream; the former in all places within high-water mark is of a dark-brown colour.  Micaceous slate? likewise occurs, although rarely.  The depth is of course enormous, in the low state of the river, when Bayfield passed up, in many places no bottom was found, at 25 or even 40 fathoms, and at this season the water had no doubt risen 40 feet higher.  Some idea of the rise that has taken place may be formed from the fact, that in places where, when Bayfield passed up, the stream did not exceed 70 yards in width, it was now 200; and of course a rise of 20 feet in the open river, would determine one of at least 40 within the K. dweng.  After passing the Elephant and Cow, which have the usual resemblance implied by their fanciful names, the river widens and becomes tranquil.  The whole of this Kioukdweng is truly remarkable, and in many places very picturesque.

The vegetation is, I imagine, similar to that of the low hills about Mogoung; but so dangerous was the passage, that I had but few opportunities of going ashore.  The hills are thinly wooded, and all bear many impressions of former clearings; but the spots now under cultivation are certainly few.  Besides, we must bear in mind, that the spots cultivated generally throughout thinly populated parts of India are deserted after the first crop, so that a very limited population may clear a great extent of ground.  Bayfield tells me, and I consider his authority as excellent, that the population is almost entirely limited to the villages seen during the passage.  These do not exceed twelve, and they are all small.  None of the hills exceed 500 feet in height (apparently,) they do not present any very peculiar features.