n close to, and
NE. of Yoomsan. On the Burmese side there is, as I have mentioned
before, a village consisting of two houses close to the route. This
village has lately been established by some Singphos from Nimbrung,
several marches to the eastward.

_Population_.--I certainly did not see 100 Nagas throughout the time
passed in traversing these hills, although I am satisfied that every man
within a reasonable distance came into Camp in the hopes of sharing in
the extensive distribution of presents. From the appearance of the
country about Yoomsan, and the valley of the Namtusseek, I am inclined to
think that the population was at one time considerable. The openness of
the country, which is as I have previously said chiefly clothed with
grass, and the peculiar and generally imperfect aspect of the trees, can
only be accounted for, by supposing the country to have been extensively
cleared, particularly when it is remembered that the highest portions of
the range are thickly wooded. But allowing this supposition to be
correct, it is no proof, that the total population has been on the
decline, for we must take into account, the wandering nature of all hill
tribes. In forming an opinion of a hill population, which in all times
and places has, in this country at least, been found scanty, we must take
care not to confound the temporary huts, erected in khets, for the
purpose of protecting the cultivation, with actually inhabited houses; to
the former description I think the detached houses mentioned as being
visible from Yoomsan are to be referred.

The Nagas, at least the men, for I saw no women, are a small, active,
large-legged race, with Tartar faces. They are divided into very many
tribes, each of which has some peculiarity of costume. Those I saw were
decidedly inferior to any of the other hill tribes with which I am
acquainted. Their clothing is miserable, the chief protection consisting
of a number of rings, made of rattan, which encircle the abdomen. They
are as usual excessively dirty, and much attached to the use of tobacco
and ardent spirits. Their wants are few, but even these are miserably
supplied. They entertain an unbounded fear of the Singphos, who appear
to make any use of them they think proper. Their only weapons are
spears, Singpho dhas and battle axes.

The Singphos cannot be considered otherwise than as encroachers.
Invasions of these restless marauders appear not to have been uncommon u