and is perpendicular.  The water of the Lohit is certainly much cooler than any of the mountain streams.  Vast blocks of rock, of many sorts, lie strewed on the south side; one in particular is quartzose, remarkable for the indentations on its surface.  I here gathered some mosses, and a good Marchantiacea, very nearly allied to Octoskepos, but culiculate.  Pandanus still continues, as also Marlea, Wallichia, Caryota, and Pentaptera.  Passed several streams, and a pretty fall, the water falling down a cliff almost perpendicular, about 100 feet high.  The Mishmees use the fibres and reti of Caryota as an ornament to their baskets, from which it likewise keeps the rain.  Wild plantain continues.  Our encampment is on a fine bed of sand.

Nov. 7th.—­Rain throughout the night at intervals, and sharp cold in the morning; we left at 9 A.M. and arrived at our encampment about 12 P.M.  The first part of our march was very difficult, it in fact consisted of crossing a precipice overhanging the Lohit; the difficulty was increased by the slipperiness occasioned by the rain; no one could pass some of the places unless aided by ratans fixed to trees, etc.  We came to the Sung river about 12 noon, but were delayed some time in building a bridge.  This river appears to me to be in some places fordable, but the Mishmees say that it is not; the water is beautifully clear.  The first cane suspended bridge occurs here; I did not fancy it, although I observed the Mishmees cross, the passage taking barely half a minute. Throughout the whole time the Mishmees use their legs and arms, to accelerate or determine their progress; the inclination caused by the weight is slight.  I preferred one of our own erection, about 100 yards distant from it.  The height is not great over the river, and the width is perhaps thirty yards.  The Bourra crossed after some delay; we were then obliged to make two halts:  we followed the Sung down to its mouth, which is barely 200 yards:  its bed is rocky; at its junction there is a large bay formed, on the N. side of which is a fine sand bank.  The Lohit there runs nearly N. and S., and is excessively violent in its course, certainly ten miles an hour.  The scenery is pretty, but no hills of great height are seen to any extent.  This is the most romantic spot I have seen in my course of travels as yet.  We forded the bay about its centre, and encamped on the sand:  the path we are to follow is said to be above, and very difficult.  We here gathered some fine ferns and a Bleteoid Orchidea.  A Gentianacea likewise occurred.  The Tapan Gam, on my inquiring, said, that Wilcox passed by the upper path, the Lohit at that time running under the cliff which forms one side of the bay. {33} The course of the river, he says, has since changed by the occurrence of a large slip, principally of mica slate.