5.  From Kidding to Namroop Puthar.  Direction, nearly south, the distance being 12 miles, course lying through very heavy jungle, crosses the Karam Panee, {115b} which here is not fordable, and another considerable feeder of the Booree Dihing, and lastly up the Namroop.

6.  From Namroop Puthar to Beesa Lacoom.  Direction southwest, the distance 12 miles, the course extending at first over low hills and difficult ground, thence through heavy jungle intersected by narrow plains, lastly chiefly along the banks of the Darap Panee.

Nature of the country.—­It will be seen that with the exception of the three first marches, and part of the fourth, the country is occupied by the heavy jungle so prevalent in these parts.  The chief difficulties our party experienced arose from the limited manner in which the jungle had been cut for their passage.

Rivers.—­The only one not fordable in the above route, is the Karam Panee, but this does not hold good either above or below the place I crossed.  They all discharge much water during the rains, and even in the dry season are navigable for small canoes.

Villages.—­These are as follows:—­

1. Digalo Gohain Goung.—­On the right bank of the Noa Dihing it is inhabited by Kamptees lately settled in our territory, and is a respectable village.  The Noa Dihing here ceases to be navigable even for small canoes.

2. Wakhet.—­This is a new but wretched village, inhabited by Singphos.  Wakhet Gam was an adherent of the Duphas, and is by all account one of the worst-disposed Singpho chiefs.  He is said even at this period still to traffic occasionally in slaves.

3. Kidding.—­A temporary village, containing about 10 houses, inhabited by Nagas, now naturalised to the plains.

4. Namroop Puthar.—­So called from a plain on the left bank of the Namroop.  The village, which is a mean and despicable one, is on the opposite bank.

5. Beesa Lacoom.—­Is situated on the right bank of the Darap Panee, which is fordable at the heads of the rapids.  It contains 12 small houses.  The Gam is, I believe, an uncle of the Beesa Gam, and exercises exclusive control over the tribe of Beesa Nagas.  This influence he appeared to exercise to our disadvantage.  He is a discontented man, and his behaviour to our party was very unsatisfactory.

Population. {116} —­This is scanty enough, particularly when we consider that the houses in the above villages are much smaller than in the better sort of Singpho villages.  With the exception of the Kamptee village the average number of people to each house cannot exceed five.  Another small Singpho village exists on the Namroop, about 3 miles from Namroop Puthar, and not far from the site of the coal mine.