The people, above all those hitherto seen, are dirty in their persons, uniting curiosity with no small share of obstinacy and impertinence in their manners.  The birds are the blackbird, a black mina, the house-sparrow, sparrow-hawk, larger crow, domestic pigeons, kites, and hoopoo.  The red-legged crows I have heard once, but far above, nor do I think that they ever visit this.  The productions being essentially different from those of the elevated valleys we have lately quitted.  Can those valleys be the steps to the table-land of Thibet to which they must be near, and which is reached sooner in that direction than any other?  The idea of the high valleys in question being steps to table-land is perhaps corroborated by the fact, that the table-land is said to be within two days’ journey from Byagur.

Our interview with the Pillo took place on the 15th, it was conducted with some state, and with some impertinence.  The latter was indicated by delaying us at the door of the audience room, the former by the attendance of more numerous and better dressed attendants than usual.  Two Pillos were present.  The incense as usual was burning, and the Pillos, both old and new, were seated before some large Chinese-looking figures.  The only novel ceremony was the praying over a mess of something which I imagine was meant for tea; in the prayer all joined, when finished the beverage was handed to the Pillos, who, however, were contented with merely tasting it.  Before this some was strewn on the floor in front, and some to the right of the chieftains.  The castle was in places crowded with people, no less than 5 to 600, but all were as dirty as usual.  None but the immediate attendants appeared armed.  The new Pillo is a dark low-looking man, with an incipient goitre, the old one a more decent aristocratic looking person, good-looking and very fair.  The presents were of course beggarly, consisting of indifferent oranges, wretched plantains, sugarcane of still worse quality, and ghee of an abominable odour.

March 17th.—­We still remain here, and do not expect to leave for two or three days.  The weather is unsettled, and the sun increasing in power daily.  The new Soobahs left to-day for their appointments, with the exception of the Dewangur one.  Pigs are here fed on boiled nettle leaves:  old ladies may be seen occasionally busily employed in picking the leaves for this purpose, and which they do by means of bamboo pincers or tweezers.  A few plantains may be met with here, but in a wretched state.  Rice may be seen 500 feet above this, on the north of the castle, the slope of a hill being appropriated to its cultivation; the terraces above, owing to the inclination, are very narrow, and from the paucity of straw, the crops must, I should infer, be very poor.

March 22nd.—­To-day we took our leave of the Pillo, who received us in a room to the south of the castle.  He was friendly enough, but begged for presents unconscionably.  He was surrounded by a considerable number of more mean-looking persons than ordinary.  On the previous meeting he talked openly of being at enmity with the present Deb Rajah, but on this occasion he said little on the subject.