682 BURMA, ITS PEOPLE AXD PRODUCTIOyS. 



DEATH OF KAYKREE (Page 188). 



The follo-uing note, communicated by the Eev. C. Parish, points out an ap- 

 palling danger, wliich may through want of care or foresight overtake the sportsman 

 or collector in the raukly luxuriant jungles and savannas of Burma. 



"Before leaving the subject of Orchids, perliaps I may be allowed to say a few 

 words on the sad end of my poor old collector — Kaylcrcc by name, and by race a 

 " Mug," or native of Arraeun. 



"He came to me about the year 1859 from Gen. Johnson, in whose service at 

 Toung-ngoo he developed a taste for observing and collecting wild flowers. "When 

 Gen. Johnson left Toung-ngoo, Kaykree accompanied him to the, Nilgiris, but, after 

 a short stay there, he begged permission to be allowed to return to Burma. On his 

 return ho entered my service, in no very definite capacity at first ; but, as he proved 

 himself to he extremely intelligent in the recognition of plants, and was evidently 

 fond of jungle life, I soon found him congenial employment, and he became finally 

 my botanical collector. I purchased a boat, of which he was to all intents and 

 purposes the owner, and as he was fond of sport after his fashion, I gave him a gun ; 

 and it was this last gift which, unhappily, like Nessus' shii-t, proved the cause of 

 his death. 



" He invariably accompanied me in my journeys, whensoever I left home, and 

 when in the jungles with me, he acted as guide, interpreter, and general factotum. 

 As, after a while, he became well known in all the villages far and near, I never 

 found any difficulty in procuring supplies, elephants, and carriers, Burman or Karen. 

 Altogether he had a veiy happy time of it, spending all the fine seasons in making 

 longer or shorter jungle trips, going and returning nearly as he pleased, but always 

 ready to start when I desired him, and to go whithersoever I bade him and however 

 far. In these journeys, however, he always had a companion, a second man, also 

 in my service, to help him in paddling the boat and otherwise ; and he farther had 

 ' carte blanche ' fi-om me to enlist any number of additional hands, when he left 

 the boat, as he might reijuire, either as carriers or for safety. 



"In the rainy season he seldom went out, and then not very far, but lounged 

 about the house, drying my plants, or playing with my children, who were extremely 

 fond of him. 



"He was always keenly alive to the pleasure of any new discovery, and was 

 proud when he could bring me a plant wliich he thought I had not seen before. On 

 one occasion he brought me in this way a very pretty new BuJhophjllum, which 

 I determined at once to call B. Kaykrcei, but, alas for his immortality ! it has dis- 

 appeared without record. For want of leisure just at the time I allowed the flower 

 to perish, without drawing or description, and, being a small plant, I suppose it died 

 when sent to England with other things. At all events I never saw it again. All 

 I recollect is that it came from the top of Ban-liijeih, near Kaiikarit. I always 

 intended to have sent him for more, but, before I could do so, his career was suddenly 

 cut short. 



"One day, when he had been but five or six years in my service, and he was 

 out on one of his excursions, his companion returned in haste alone, and informed 

 me that ho had left Kaykree in a Karen village, about three days' journey off, badly 

 burned. I at once sent him back with my head servant, and a supply of cotton and 

 sweet oil, bidding them make all possible speed ; but, alas ! before they could reach 

 him, the poor fellow had expired in dreadful agony. 



"It appears that he had climlied a tree with his gun to watch for and shoot 

 a wild pig, and that, while waiting for some Karens to beat the jungle, the grass in 

 the neighbourhood caught fii-e, and advanced rapidly towards him. The Karens 

 shouted to him to come down, but, fancying himself safe, and out of the reach of 

 the flames, he did not do so tiU too late. The fire reached the tree and soon en- 

 veloped it in flames, thi-ough the midst of which he was at last obliged to let himself 

 down as he best could, but in so doing was so fearfully scorched that, after lingering 

 for two or three days, he died. It was always surprising to me that so experienced 

 a jungle traveller as he was should not have known better! I need not dwell on 



