Streams.—­These all partake of the usual nature of mountain torrents; they are all fordable during the cold weather, the principal ones being crossed at the heads of the rapids.  The boundary nullah is a mere streamlet:  it runs between two ridges of the Patkaye:  its course being about ESE. and WNW.  Owing to the frequency of the streams and their mountainous nature, I should imagine that this route is impracticable during the rains.

Villages.—­Not a single village or house exists directly on the route.  One small Naga village is visible from the Namtusseek below Yoomsan, and a detached hut is visible here and there on a high mountain close to, and NE. of Yoomsan.  On the Burmese side there is, as I have mentioned before, a village consisting of two houses close to the route.  This village has lately been established by some Singphos from Nimbrung, several marches to the eastward.

Population.—­I certainly did not see 100 Nagas throughout the time passed in traversing these hills, although I am satisfied that every man within a reasonable distance came into Camp in the hopes of sharing in the extensive distribution of presents.  From the appearance of the country about Yoomsan, and the valley of the Namtusseek, I am inclined to think that the population was at one time considerable.  The openness of the country, which is as I have previously said chiefly clothed with grass, and the peculiar and generally imperfect aspect of the trees, can only be accounted for, by supposing the country to have been extensively cleared, particularly when it is remembered that the highest portions of the range are thickly wooded.  But allowing this supposition to be correct, it is no proof, that the total population has been on the decline, for we must take into account, the wandering nature of all hill tribes.  In forming an opinion of a hill population, which in all times and places has, in this country at least, been found scanty, we must take care not to confound the temporary huts, erected in khets, for the purpose of protecting the cultivation, with actually inhabited houses; to the former description I think the detached houses mentioned as being visible from Yoomsan are to be referred.

The Nagas, at least the men, for I saw no women, are a small, active, large-legged race, with Tartar faces.  They are divided into very many tribes, each of which has some peculiarity of costume.  Those I saw were decidedly inferior to any of the other hill tribes with which I am acquainted.  Their clothing is miserable, the chief protection consisting of a number of rings, made of rattan, which encircle the abdomen.  They are as usual excessively dirty, and much attached to the use of tobacco and ardent spirits.  Their wants are few, but even these are miserably supplied.  They entertain an unbounded fear of the Singphos, who appear to make any use of them they think proper.  Their only weapons are spears, Singpho dhas and battle axes.