12 Narrative of the Proceedings and Scientific 



island, and consequently the smaller river to be only a branch 

 of the larger. 



The prospect hitherto presented in a route of little less than 

 four hundred miles was that of a country imperfectly culti- 

 vated and inhabited, and by far the greatest part of which was 

 covered with a deep forest, or with tall reeds and grass, among 

 which there was scarcely any evidence of culture or occupation.. 

 We were now, however, within fifty- miles of the capital, and 

 the scene began greatly to improve. The country became 

 level, the nearest ranges of hills to the east being at least thirty 

 miles distant, and the Arracan mountains to the west not less 

 than fifty in the nearest part, and sixty or seventy in the dis- 

 tant. The villages and cultivation had increased very con- 

 siderably, but neither here nor anywhere else did we see evi- 

 dence of a dense population or active industry. 



At two o'clock in the afternoon we passed Yandabu, where 

 the treaty was dictated to the Burmans, and sailed within a 

 stone's throw of the great tree where Sir A. CampbelPs tent 

 was pitched, and the conferences were held. 



On the afternoon of the 28th we reached Rapatong, a vil- 

 lage on the east bank of the river. This was the spot at 

 which the Burmans contemplated making their last effort, had 

 the British army not been arrested in its progress by the treaty 

 of Yandabu. Here they were encamped under the old chief 

 Kaulen Mengyi, the whole disposable force not exceeding a 

 thousand men, and the greater number of these consisting, not 

 of soldiers, but of the personal retainers and menial servants 

 of the chiefs. Two forced marches would have carried Sir A. 

 Campbell to Ava on a good high road, with nothing to resist 

 him but the dispirited fugitives just mentioned. In the even- 

 ing we reached Kyaoktalon, twelve miles from Ava. A short 

 way before coming to that place, a deputation, headed by a 

 secretary of the Lotoo, met us to compliment us on our ar- 

 rival, and usher us into the capital. 



On the morning of the 29th we left Kyaoktalon. After 

 we had proceeded a few miles, an order from the court ar- 

 rived, requesting that we might stop where we were, as it was 

 the intention to send down a deputation of persons of superior 

 rank to conduct us. The promised deputation, consisting of 



