1892.] Address. 73 



the Malikha and the 'Nmaiklia, at about 150 miles by land from Bhamo. 

 Some rough measurements taken here gave approximately 33,500 cubic 

 feet per second as the volume of the 'Nmaikha or eastern branch, while 

 that of the Malikha or western branch was only 23,000. The tempera- 

 ture of the water in the former was also found to be 5° or 6° colder 

 than that of the latter, from which it would appear that the 'Nmaikha 

 receives more snow water than the western branch. The Malikha is 

 navigable for boats when the water is low to Sardan, 24 miles north of the 

 confluence, and possibly much further, but owing to rapids the 'Nmaiklia 

 is only navigable some six or seven miles from the junction. The latter 

 being wider and deeper than the Malikha, and having the greater dis- 

 charge of water, may fairly be considered the main source of the Irra- 

 waddy. 



The expedition proceeded northwards through a dense jungly 

 country to a hill known as Pumlum Pum, about 57 miles from the con- 

 fluence, but was unable to advance further. From this point Major 

 Hobday was able to map in a good deal of the country along the course 

 of the Malikha, almost to the Kanti country previously reconnoitred by 

 Col. Woodthorpe in 1884-85. The expedition then moved back to 

 Pumwai and went eastwards to Sabaw on the Malikha, thence south 

 along the right bank of the latter to Kwitao, and then crossing the river 

 reached the 'Nmaikha at Lekennoi ferry, some 20 miles east of the 

 confluence. From this point they marched via Mailompum to Maingna, 

 on the left bank of the Irrawaddy. A second attempt was made to 

 ascend the 'Nmaikha, but it failed owing to the opposition met with at 

 three marches from Maingna. This river has been accurately mapped in 

 from the confluence as far as 'Nsentaru, where it makes a sudden turn to 

 the west after flowing from the north. Beyond this point its general 

 direction is known to be northerly, but the river itself is soon lost behind 

 high mountains, and trustworthy information regarding its further course 

 could not be obtained. No information of the existence of the Naungsa 

 lake, which was reported to be the source of one of the branches of the 

 'Nmaikha, was obtained ; and it appeared doubtful whether the river was 

 fed by any large lake source, though it seemed probable that it had a 

 large eastern tributary at a point several days' journey from the con- 

 fluence. The Kantis refer to two rivers to their east, called the Nam 

 Tisan and the Namdu Mai or Phung Mai. From the accounts given by 

 the Kanti Shans of the position of the latter river, about 45 miles to 

 the east, as well as from the similarity of the names and other points, 

 there seems to be no question that it is the 'Nmaikha in its upper 

 reaches, and is the eastern branch of the Irrawaddy. The Kanti Shans 

 further state that there were two other large rivers to be crossed before 



