( 07 ) 



ing that he was not quite certain whether they would strike, but that 

 if I would call in on my downward trip, he would have some layers 

 ready. I accepted his kind offer, and sure enough on my return 

 voyage I found my friend had not forgotten his promise, and the 

 plants now thrive at the Government plantation at Magayee. I 

 presented his daughter with a few silk handkerchiefs and some scent, 

 in acknowledgment for which, she very modestly placed before me 

 the wreath that entwined her hair, apologizing that time would not ad- 

 mit of her gathering fresh flowers. I would have capped the com- 

 pliment; but unfortunately words failed me. I must not forget to 

 mention that in this house I also noticed a very healthy young Ficus 

 dastica growing in a pot said to have been brought from Mogoung 

 last year, when but a seedling of a few inches high. 



127. The blowing up of a very influential Hpoongy was to have 



taken place the following day, and I 

 atfci 0bseqilieS ° f aHpoongy much regretted time would not admit of 



my remaining to witness the ceremony. 

 This process of cremation is the one usually followed in the case of 

 the priesthood or people of rank ; but among all other classes, the 

 body is placed in a coffin, and buried in the ordinary way. The 

 bier from which the remains of the old hpoongy were to have been 

 disposed of, was a most gorgeous affair, standing twenty-seven feet 

 from the base. It was after the design of a seven-roofed thain, con- 

 structed of skeleton bamboo-work, decorated with tinsel, lace, and 

 a diorama illustrating the life of the priest. Each corner was 

 guarded by a figure having the combined form of man and cock, 

 the upper portion representing the former, and the latter finished 

 off with a fine display of feathers. The coffin was to have 

 occupied the uppermost tier, and the remaining six to have con- 

 tained varying proportions of gunpowder. This ceremony is 

 generally attended with some serious accidents as the process of 

 igniting the powder by means of rockets is most dangerous. To 

 all four sides of the bier, long ropes are attached as rocket 

 slides, extending to the spectators, but it very often happens that 

 the rockets get disengaged and shoot into the crowd, which, on 

 occasions of this sort, is very dense. The ceremony, throughout, 

 is a most interesting one, though I do not feel at liberty to give a 

 more lengthy description of it at present. 



128. Here I made my first acquaintance with the Kakhyens, who 



evidently had been attracted to the 

 ^Fkst acquaintance with Kak- river's bank by the shrill steam whistle. 



There was a group of seven men and 

 five women. The former averaged about live feet eight inches in 



