( 77 ) 



while at needlework or when seated at the loom — occupations taught 

 them from their earliest years. Here also I noticed them engaged 

 in mattrass -making, a branch of industry I had not hitherto observ- 

 ed. The system consists in a process of quilting which obviates the 

 necessity for " ticking," the mattrass having the appearance of cor- 

 duroy, each rib being about four inches wide. These beds are re- 

 markably comfortable and peculiarly adapted for travelling, owing 

 to the facility the ribs offer for packing into a compact space. They 

 are made as follows : — Bamboo spikes, a little thicker than a pencil 

 and three feet long, are driven into the ground four inches apart, 

 on these, a net-work of cotton is worked by running the thread in 

 and out of the stakes ; this web is not over a few inches from the 

 ground. A layer of finely carded cotton half as thick again as the 

 intended depth of the mattress, is next laid on the net, and gradu- 

 ally beaten down into a consolidated mass by small switches ; the 

 whole is secured by a net similar to that at the bottom, and the 

 sides fastened by cutting the upper and lower meshes and tying 

 them together. The quilt is now ready for covering, the ribbing 

 process being subsequently performed by needle and thread. 



148. Besides the indigenous labour, immigrants from the Hotha 

 Description and occupation of and Latha valleys come and settle 



immigrants from Hotha and Latha down here fl'Om October till April as 



valle J s - brick-makers and blacksmiths. They 



are a quiet, orderly set, and always appear to find plenty of employ- 

 ment ; strange to say many of the dahs they manufacture are sold 

 to the Kaklujens with the consent of the Burmese authorities. These 

 people are Shan-Chinese but have more of the Chinese type of 

 feature and habits than the genuine Shan, who again nearer 

 approach the Burnian. Their costume consists of a huge pugorie, 

 short jacket, and trousers which do not extend below the knees ; 

 the remaining portion of the leg is covered with bandages of the 

 same material as the rest of the costume, which throughout is dyed 

 blue. I was surprised to notice among other pieces of old iron 

 that had been given these people for conversion, English weights, 

 and what closely resembled some of our defaced marking hammers. 



149. The Chinese quarters occupy the middle of the town, and 



their houses are either entirely of sun- 



qu?rters. ed a ° C0Unt ° f the Chinese dried bricks with tiled roofs » or merely 



the front wall is of that material, the 



remaining three sides being of bamboo matting plastered with clay. 

 Their temple is & pucka building, after the orthodox design, answer- 

 ing the double purpose of a guest-house and place of worship. 

 The decorations, images, and paraphernalia of religious office are 



