( 8 ) 



Ameletia Indica is abundant, giving a heath-like colour to the turf 

 with its pale purple flowers. Wherever there is standing water, its 

 surface is reddened by the Azolla : Salvinia is also common. 



14. At Shoaydoung Myomat, which is on the east bank of the 

 „ , - , , , river, eight miles below Prome, rocks 



Bocks first observed. #» °n n , j- ,• -i i 



were tor the first time noticed above 

 water, and a few miles further north may be seen the teak planta- 

 tion of the Forest Department; but as there was no time for inspect- 

 ing it, I refrain from passing an opinion.* At a quarter to four 

 p.m. on the 27th, we anchored abreast of Prome, having accom- 

 plished this portion of our voyage in 124 hours. 



15. There is nothing sufficiently attractive in this town to engage 



the attention of voyagers, beyond, per- 

 idZ*Z ; ^ff ha P s > itahavinga more cmlized appear- 



ance than any place hitherto passed. 

 To a resident, no doubt, the case is different, though we are not 

 told so — the result of a press of work probably preventing officers 

 devoting their time to anything beyond the usual daily routine of 

 business. Eunning parallel with the river is a row of European 

 houses, fronted by a strand nicely avenued with trees, valuable both 

 as shelter and ornament. In the background is the town, studded 

 with pagodas and other Buddhistic buildings, set in groves of palms 

 and plantains, all of which combine to make a charming picture 

 as viewed from the river. The population within the municipal 

 town of Prome is 25,631, and in the district, 266,067, the increase 

 within the last five years having been, respectively, 536 and 

 23,291. This of itself speaks for the growing prosperity of the 

 district and the contentedness of the people. Prome, I am told, 

 is noted principally for silk-weaving ; but amongst its other manu- 

 factures are the following, which are arranged according to their 

 relative importance : — 



1st. — Gold-smiths. 



2nd. — Silk-weavers. 



3rd. — Carvers. 



4th. — Workers in lacquer-ware. 



5th. — Copper-smiths. 



6th.— Gilders. 



7th. — Gold-leaf manufacturers. 



16. There are 1,651 silk- weavers in the town of Prorne, and 6,139 

 in the district. The raw silk, I believe, is chiefly obtained from the 



* Please, future excursionists, do not, however, note this plantation as one of the 

 engaging sights on the river; nor be too severe with the " critic's lash ;" for, remember, 

 all things must have a beginning, and this plantation, I am told, ranks among the 

 first of arboricultural experiments in Burma. 



