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A difficult march and problems caused by incessant rain |
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Assessed Inkyo before leaving. Thence via Ngaulong to Mechangbung - a distance estimated by Resopu at 21 miles, though I think myself eighteen would probably be nearer. In any case as a march it must have been equal to 30 miles or more on a bridle path. I have struck several stiffish marches in this district but I cannot for the moment think of one to equal this. Down from Inkyo to a tributary of the Chulin, thence up a very stiff ascent to the top of a tila, down and up and down and up again to Ngaulong, one of these ascents being no mean one, and after counting Ngaulong down to the Chulin itself again and up a very steep ascent to Mechangbung. On the way I disposed of a dispute between Ngaulong and Inkyo. Ngaulong to Mechangbung alone would be quite a respectable day's march. The climb up from the river is not quite as steep as that to Inkyo, but not far off, and longer I think. On the top of all it rained the whole time, and the paths were mere mud. The incessant rain is very troublesome. If it is prevalent throughout the district all the "small rice" jhums which ripen early will be ruined as the millet has been. If it is enough to swell the Chulin I may be cut off from Kohima indefinitely. My sais met me with the pony at Mechangbung, having got across by a bamboo bridge and swum the pony at the end of a rope. But any rise will take the bridge away and none can be rigged up again till the torrent falls. It is very inconvenient having no bridge. If the Chief Engineer would find me one wire rope wasting in any of the Public Works Department Godowns in the province, I could get a bridge across of a sort as one rope of the old suspension bridge is still fit for use. |
