( '27 ) 



Us. 5 ; has only a market currency of Rs. 4-12, and a similar value 

 when received as revenue. 



48. My new acquaintance now being about to leave, I thought 



I would ask a few questions associated 



.SSZ^u^r ti0ab ° m ^ th ^ "?' but ^fortunately, 



these were matters in which he was 

 little interested. He dilated largely on some wonderful turtle 

 exhibition, and the intelligence displayed by these creatures. He 

 also spoke of some extensive gardens on a creek a little north of 

 Mandalay, * where spices of different sorts were grown, including 

 cloves, cardamoms, and nutmeg-trees ; but he seemed positive that 

 there were no Jicm clastica trees grown anywhere near the city, and 

 that all the India-rubber in the market had been brought from Bha- 

 mo, and northwards. 



49. On the departure of my garrulous friend, I turned in for the 



night. Unfortunately, however, my 



ractefore^cort. 1116 "^ and **" cabin was that nearest the companion- 



ladder ; and only separated from the 

 deck-passengers by a thin panelling ; sleep was quite out of the 

 question, so I lighted my pipe, and listened to the musical enter- 

 tainment carried on by the Burmese passengers amidst peals of 

 laughter and a clatter of tongues, each endeavouring to obtain a 

 hearing by raising his voice a key higher than his neighbour. The 

 only instrumental music was my inverted copper basin, and a couple 

 of tin-pots, which were made to serve as an accompaniment to the 

 voice. Evidently one of my party was the "Don Juan" of the evening, 

 and notedly more noisy than the rest. He seemed a great favourite 

 among the opposite sex, and long before quitting the vessel, had 

 evidently gained their entire confidence, each deluded creature ima- 

 gining she was the favoured one, no doubt. The same individual 

 distinguished himself at a public pooaij at Bhamo, where his services 

 were recognized both by the public and myself — though indifferent 

 ways. Eventually he turned out a most incorrigible blackguard, 

 invariably being found drunk, or having added one more to his 

 numerous wives ; in fact, with the exception of two of my escort, my 

 whole party were more or less debauchees, and of a stamp that 

 could not obtain employment in British territory ; for so great is 

 the dread of the climate and tribes north of the capital, that men 

 willing to earn an honest livelihood would not accompany me, and 

 I was obliged to content myself with any riff-raff I could enlist, 



* Note — Probably these gardens are those referred to by Yule on the banks of the Madeya- 

 koivng : a little exaggerated in respect to the spice groves : areca palms, betel-vines, cocoanuts, 

 custard-apples, jacks, and a few other fruit-trees alone being cultivated by the people on this 

 picturesque creek. 



