Dec. 7th, 8th.—­Halted at Beesa.

Dec. 9th.—­Started for the Naga village, at some distance, and

Dec. 10th.—­Left for Kujoo or Khoonlong, which we reached about 1, after a march of five hours.  At 10, we arrived at Dhoompsan or Thoompsa, a large village with extensive cultivation.  The remainder of our march was through heavy jungle, many parts of which were very low, and crowded with a fierce Calamus.  The higher parts abound in a Dipterocarpus, and two Castaneae.  I found many fine ferns, all of which however we collected last year.  Chrysobaphus, not uncommon.  Apostasia rare.

Dec. 11th.—­Visited the tea in the old locality at Nigroo.  No steps have been taken towards clearing the jungles, except perhaps of tea.  The Gam tells me, that the order for clearing was given to Shroo, Dompshan, and Kumongyon, Gams of three villages near the spot.  Noticed Dicksonia en route, so that we must have passed it last year.  AEsculus also occurs here.

Dec. 12th.—­Arrived at Kugoodoo after an easy march of two hours and a half.  At 12, went to see the tea which lies to the S.S.W. of the village, and about ten minutes’ walk to the W. of the path leading to Negrogam, and which for the most part runs along an old bund road.  After diverging from this road we passed through some low jungle, which is always characterised by Calamus Zalaccoideus; and then after traversing for a short time some rather higher ground, came on the tea.  This patch is never under water; there is no peculiarity of vegetation connected with it.  It runs about N. and S. for perhaps 150 yards by 40 to 50 in breadth.  The Gam had cleared the jungle of all, except the larger trees and the low herbaceous underwood, so that a coup d’oeil was at once obtained, and gave sufficient evidence of the abundance of the plants, many of which were of considerable size, and all bore evidence of having been mutilated.  They were for the most part loaded with flowers, and are the finest I have seen in the Singfo country.  Young buds were very common, nor can I reconcile this with the statement made by the Gam, that no young leaves will be obtainable for four months.  From the clearing, the plants are exposed to moderate sun; it is perhaps to this that the great abundance of flowers is to be attributed.  The soil, now quite dry at the surface, is of a cinereous grey; about a foot below it is brown, which passes, as you proceed, into deeper yellow; about four feet deep, it passes into sand.  No ravines exist, and mounds only do about a few of the larger trees.  The soil as usual is light, friable, easily reduced to powder, and has a very slight tendency to stiffness.

Dec. 13th.—­Left for the Muttack:  our course lay through dense jungle, principally of bamboo, and along the paths of wild elephants; these beasts are here very common.  We halted after a march of seven hours on a small bank of the Deboro; the only plant of interest was my Cyananthus in flower.