11th.  Kuttack Bhoom. {119d}—­Altitude 3270.  General direction S. Distance 13 miles.  Left the Khussee-khioung, but reached it again before long.  Continued to descend considerably, until we reached the Nam-thuga, thence the descent increased considerably.  Halted on an open grassy spot, from which an extensive view of the valley of Hookhoom is obtained.

12th. Namtusseek.—­Altitude 1099 feet.  General direction ESE.  Distance 10 miles.  Descended from Kuttack Bhoom, until we reached the Loonkharankha, then ascended considerably.  The descent then recommenced, until we reached the Namtusseek.  Heavy jungle occurred throughout.  Path occasionally difficult, becoming as we approached the base of the range very wet.  We crossed several small mountain streams.

General features of the hills.—­The prevailing formation appears to be sandstone, and connected with this we have rounded summits, not attaining a great elevation, and a considerable depth of soil.  The lower ranges are throughout covered with heavy tree jungle.  This becomes excessively thick and wet along the water courses, which are of frequent occurrence towards the base of the range, both on the northern and southern sides.  But from an elevation of 1000 feet to that of Yoomsan, a great change for the better takes place on the northern face, the hills being covered with clay, and generally not very high grass jungle, among which trees are scattered.  This character is particularly evident along both sides of the valley drained by the Namtusseek of the northern side.  The Patkaye is wooded to its summit; the jungle on the south side being much more humid than that on the northern.  Indeed on this face of the range, with the exception of the Puthars on the Nam-maroan, scarcely more than two open spots exist, and both of these are of small extent.  Of these one exists at an elevation of 5500 feet, and one at Kuttack Bhoom.

The paths although very often steep, are easy enough for coolies, except during wet weather, when they become very slippery.  With some degree of preparation the worst places might be made passable for lightly loaded elephants, and this would be facilitated by the soft nature of most of the rocks.  The most difficult marches are those which lie along the beds of the streams, and these, it has been seen, are far the most numerous; they are particularly difficult for elephants, the boulders affording a very precarious footing to these weighty animals.  The difficulty is much increased by rain, when even coolies find considerable difficulty in making any progress.  Several elephants accompanied Major White as far as the Darap Panee, and a small suwaree elephant, loaded with a light tent, succeeded in reaching Yoomsan.  The southern side of the range is decidedly of a more difficult nature than the northern, and it is in addition of greater extent:  the highest point traversed is 5600 feet above the level of the sea.  The range might be traversed by a lightly loaded active native in six days.