Benka

Monass: thence proceeding about one and a half mile, we reached Tassgong or Benka which is situated on this river, and about 1,000 feet above it.

Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries William Griffith

And it was interesting to see two different approaches to the political poem, though Benka largely read new work and not from a box of longing with fifty drawers, published by Softskull this fall.

Archive 2006-01-01 Lemon Hound 2006

More on Benka to come, but I wanted to meditate on the divide in the poetry world.

Archive 2006-01-01 Lemon Hound 2006

Benka gives us one poem for each word in that Preamble and I give you "United," "Justice" and "America."

Archive 2006-01-01 Lemon Hound 2006

Benka, and then rose gradually and inconsiderably, following the Teemboo.

Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries William Griffith

Benka is a straggling place, built on a ridge overhanging the Monass, and on exceedingly rugged ground, the north face of the ridge being nearly equally steep; the southern face, contains about fifty houses, all of which are small and a few in ruins.

Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries William Griffith

Euphorbia antiquorum, Jasminum of Benka, Ligustrum conaria, Mesp. microphyllus (are these two species confounded by me, as the larger-leaved one never descends so low?), Lerissoides, Osbeckia linearis, Euphorbia, Gordonia, Gymnobotrys.

Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries William Griffith

From this ridge a village near Benka is visible, as well as a large stream, the Goomrea, and several villages.

Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries William Griffith

The Monass is 1,300 feet below Benka, it is a large river, the banks being about eighty yards apart, but this space is not generally filled with water.

Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries William Griffith

Benka and Monass, 13 degrees Fahr. 1,193-4 feet 91-8 feet

Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries William Griffith