( 60 ) 



Terminalia rhchula, Pentapetes, and Depterocarpus : also cultivated 

 limes, oranges, pomegranate, and Carica papaya. 



124. Before the next village of Moda is reached, which has 

 ,,.„ , *, , occupied five hours' steaming, the river 



Village of Moda. ■, 1 , , , , °' 



becomes much broken up by low grassy 

 islands and sand-banks, and the only navigable channel is so 

 narrow as to render rounding the elbows a difficult matter, and 

 even with our little steamer, the stern generally bumped the 

 opposite bank. To the west, the permanent banks of the river are 

 lined with miniature Mississippian cane-brakes — but to the east the 

 country from Katha, northward represents a vast Savanna. 



125. The sand-banks in places are covered with waders of 

 „. , , , . . , . various species, also ibis, adjutants, 



Birds observed on banks of river. ,. x . , •;, J -J 



pelicans, cormorants, bitterns, and 

 what appeared to me a flamingo ; but I cannot speak positively ; 

 unfortunately, the bird was out of gun-shot. 



The small mountain stream known as Koukway choung now 

 empties itself into the river to the right. Its banks are sparsely 

 populated by Kakhyens, who bring and barter with the people of 

 the plains, gums, honey, ivory, and pwaingzet* for whatever they 

 require. Ivory, I am told, can be purchased here at Rs. 5-4 per 

 viss, but that, in the interior, splendid tusks will readily be ex- 

 changed for some trifling article of merchandise. 



126. So dense was the fog on the morning of the 23rd, that we 

 . . x _ were detained for some hours, shortly 



Arrival at Shweeoo. », -, - .-, 



alter leaving our moorings ol the 

 previous night. This suited me capitally, for it brought us into 

 Shwegoo about 3-30 p. m. too late to admit of another start after 

 wooding, yet early enough to give me a long ramble on shore. 

 Fuel was shipped here at Rs. 8 per 1000 billets. 



Shwegoo another village of considerable size and im- 

 portance, owing to the large quantity of grain it exports, is 

 situated on the high alluvial left bank of the river, which is as- 

 cended by a flight of steps reaching to the water's edge. The 

 houses are all enclosed in a bamboo stockade, with a gate at either 

 end of the principal road, which runs north and south. These are 

 closed shortly after dark, on account of the raids committed by the 

 Kakhyens, who are held in great dread by all inhabitants of the 

 plains. The villagers seemed remarkably sociable, and ready to 

 offer information on all subjects. At one house where I stopped to 

 admire a handsome Thumbergia covering the verandah trellis, the 

 owner very politely insisted on my accepting some cuttings, remark - 



A sort of wax elaborated by the Tringona Icericeps. 



