In concluding this part of my report, I may perhaps be permitted to advert to the question of the possibility of transporting a body of armed men into the Burmese dominions by this route.  Although there is nothing in the nature of this portion of the boundary which would render this operation very difficult, yet considering the state of the adjoining parts of Upper Assam, and that of Hookhoom, it becomes almost impracticable.  I allude to the extreme difficulty of procuring grain in Upper Assam, in which, at least around Sadiya, annual scarcities are by no means uncommon, and to the utter impossibility of drawing any supplies from Hookhoom in its present miserable state.  All the necessary supplies would require to be drawn from Lower Assam, and for the transport of these the scanty population of this extremity of the valley would by no means be sufficient.  Bearing on this point it must be remembered, that from the 1st of April to the 1st November, these hills cannot be traversed except by their native inhabitants, without incurring great risk from the usual severe form of jungle fever.

III.  FROM NAMTUSSEEK TO WULLABOOM.

COUNTRY TRAVERSED SUBJECT TO BURMESE AUTHORITY, FORMING GREATER PORTION OF THE VALLEY OF HOOKHOONG, OR THE PAEENDWENG.

March 1. From Namtusseek to Nhempean.—­Direction E. Distance 18 miles, crossed the Namtusseek, then passed through heavy tree jungle, and subsequently over extensive grassy plains.

2. From Nhempean to Nidding.—­Direction SSE.  Distance 4.5 miles, course along the Namtoroan, thence up the Saxsaikha.

3. From Nidding to Kulleyang.—­Direction SSE.  Distance 13 miles, country covered either with tree or high grass jungle.  Passed a deserted village, Thilling Khet.

4. From Kulleyang to Isilone.—­Direction SW.  Distance 10 miles, country rather more open.  Puthars are of common occurrence; passed a small village, Damoon.

5. From Tsilone to Meinkhoong.—­Distance 17 miles, course at first along the Namtunai, {124a} country open, consisting of grassy plains; several nullahs occur.

6. From Meinkhoon to Wullabhoom.—­Direction SE.  Distance 13 miles.  Course over plains intersected by tree jungle, subsequently up the bed of the Nempyo-kha.

Nature of the Country.—­The valley of Hookhoong, or as the Burmese call it, in allusion to its amber mines, Paeendweng, is of small extent.  Its greatest diameter is in the direction of E. to W., {124b} its southern termination being within a few miles from Wullabhoom.  It is surrounded on all sides by hills, the highest of which are towards the NE. and E.; none however would appear to exceed 6000 feet in height; and from their appearance, I imagine they are wooded to their summits.  The lowest hills are those which form the southern boundary, and these scarcely deserve the name.  From Kuttack-bhoom