At the nullah, Fici sp., Saccharum Megala, Verbenacia? foliis apice craso lobatis.  On the opposite side, Pinus longifolia, to within 200 feet of the nullah, Phlebochiton extensus!  Solanum farinaceum!  Achyranthes densa! a Plumbaginacea which is a Paederioid Rubiacea, and another Ficus, Hastingsia, Bassia, Labiata Sudyensis, Grislea, very common, Emblica, Ficus obliquus were found along the road, after crossing the nullah.  The ridge of the mountain was rocky, barren, covered chiefly with grasses, the Butea of Nurtung, Artemisia minor, Umbelliferae, Desmodium vestilum, Kalanchoe, also occurred.  At the few houses below our path, we saw plantains! and bamboos as well as mangoes!  The terraces here are fronted with stones:  Lemna occurred in water; Linaria on rocks; Conaria and a fleshy Euphorbia, this last, about villages.

The occurrence of plantains and mangoes here is curious, and a sure sign of mild climate, as Kalanchoe is of dryness; nothing could well exceed the barrenness of the road, from crossing Dumria to Benka.

Benka is a straggling place, built on a ridge overhanging the Monass, and on exceedingly rugged ground, the north face of the ridge being nearly equally steep; the southern face, contains about fifty houses, all of which are small and a few in ruins.  The only large house is the Rajah’s, which is said to be of Chinese construction.

This day the Rajah paid us a visit; a tent was pitched for his reception on the open ground before our house, consisting of a small silken pall, with two high silken parti-coloured kunnauts.  He arrived about eleven, preceded and succeeded by followers amounting to less than a hundred.  On reaching the ground, he was carried or shuffled off his horse and deposited in the tent amid most terrific screechings.  He took an immense time to arrange for our admission.  We found him seated on a shabby throne, with a head priest, a coarse looking man, on his right, on a less elevated seat.  Brass cups, etc. were arranged before him.  Our chairs occupied the left; a present of fruits, onions, etc., the floor.  The meeting was friendly, and he promised us coolies in two days.  He is a youngish man with a square face, and was well dressed.

After we had taken leave, he feasted his attendants and the spectators with salt-fish and rice.  He departed about 2 P.M.  The procession was as follows, both going and returning—­

A large, black, shaggy dog led by a chain.

A drum and drummer; a gong with a melodious sound; a clarionet played by an old and accomplished musician, rivalling in its strains that beautiful instrument the bagpipe; a man bearing a wooden painted slab on a pole, on this was an inscription; a banner looking like a composition of rags; a white flaglet; fifteen matchlockmen; fifteen bowmen; the Dompa of Roongdong; five horses and one mule led.

The household; Natchees; guitar; sundries.  Personal attendants, looking like yeomen of the guard in red cloth dresses, variegated with yellow; the Rajah wearing a Chinese copper hat.