( 17 ) 



surprise why the former town, instead of the latter, had not been 

 chosen as the head-quarters for troops. There are no doubt 

 good and sound reasons for the selection, though not obvious to 

 passers-by, who, as a matter of course, base their ideas on the 

 physical characteristics of the country and hearsay report, which, in 

 this instance, is not in favour of Thayetmyo. Shortly after 

 leaving Allanmyo, the frontier station of Meaday is reached, and 

 here the limits of British territory cease. The boundary is denned 

 by two masonry pillars — one on either side of the river — but 

 whose insignificant appearance suggests to the traveller the idea 

 that they were not intended as permanent landmarks. 



25. Meaday presents the first sign of the Burmese appre- 

 ciation of European intelligence, by 

 Meaday to Joungyah. the introduction of a neatly-constructed 



telegraph office — communication by 

 wire now being in a measure, established between this and the 

 capital, Mandalay. Here the precipitous alluvial banks and 

 recently-created intersecting islands mark the fall of the river at 

 this season, and point to the magnificent sheet of water it 

 must present during the floods. We now steam past the prettily- 

 wooded island of Loomgyee, whose beauty Synies would seem 

 to have overrated, though the mountainous scenery on the west, 

 clothed in the most luxuriant growth of arborescent vegetation, 

 and dotted with pagodas, lends so charming a feature to the scene, 

 that one can well understand the pen of an enthusiast being carried 

 away by poetic romance. To the east the coimtry continues low 

 and undulating ; but on both sides the banks of the river are 

 prettily cultivated andintersectedby groves of palms, plantains, and 

 clumps of trees, that add to the picturesqueness of the scene. By 

 noon of the 30th, we reached the pretty village of Joungyah, on 

 the left bank, embowered in trees, chiefly tamarind. 



26. Here some of the Chinese and Indian firms of Rangoon 



have established agencies for the pur- 

 Agencies of Chinese and Indian chase of lac, cutch, cotton, and other 



MSnia t . j0Ungyah,andpr0gl ' eSSt ° raw produce brought from the inte- 

 rior. Abreast of this village we pass- 

 ed the Woon of Mergui, in a small native boat on his way from 

 Thayetmyo, where he had been for European medical aid, and it 

 had taken his boat six days to accomplish what we had performed 

 in one. Thoungaum is the next well-wooded island of signifi- 

 cance we passed; and from the foliage peep out several pagodas, 

 that have a striking effect. Above this the river narrows, and its 

 banks on either side are well covered with trees — Mwrraya panicu- 

 lata, perhaps, being among the most common. Bounding the 



