( 94 ) 



was, how the child preserved his balance, and yet looked so com- 

 fortable. The procession now was a repetition of what had gone 

 before, only the order had been exactly reversed. We dined with 

 the Mandarin in the evening, and although I ate sparingly of the 

 greasy food placed before us, — under the plea of want of skill in 

 handling the chop-sticks, — yet I very indiscreetly took a glass of 

 shamshoo, which I had occasion to remember for two days after- 

 wards : both Messrs. Cooper and Graham, however, were in favour 

 of the liquor, and partook of it freely without any evil effect. 



171. Here also I witnessed the Water-festival, a ceremony with 



a -rxi -err * * li , which the Burmese new-year is usher- 



Account of the water-festival, t . T\ 1 • Jl VI 



ed in. Delugmg one another with 



water, is the great diversion at this anniversary, which is even 



more childish by far than a carnival. At an early hour on the first 



of the new year, guns are fired from the Governor's house, and the 



salute taken up by feu-de-joie throughout the town, accompanied by 



shouts of " Thayia ming kia bin," which, I am told, signifies " Indra 



has descended." All now sprinkle newly-drawn water in front of 



their house, and a processof dreuchingone another and passers-by 



— irrespective of caste, religion, or position — with syringes or even 



chatties is kept up for three days, during which period no one is 



supposed to take offence, it being considered an honour to be 



thoroughly immersed. 



172. Before proceeding to a description of my trip into the 



Kakhyen Hills via the Taping, I must 



oftTeld b^Mr Coo* 8 ? ^^ ^ n0t i0Y % et t0 mention that > 0n m y 



return to Bhamo, I found Mr. Cooper 

 had been succeeded by Captain C. B. Cooke. The Residency now 

 no longer assumed the wretched scene of discomfort it presented 

 when I was last there ; a transformation scene had taken place ; 

 and everything was the picture of neatness, and as comfortable as 

 it was possible to make such an uncheerful building. I take this 

 opportunity of recording my thanks to that Officer, for the great 

 kindness and hospitality he showed me, during my stay with him 

 at the Besidency. 



Vegetation — indigenous and cultivated. 



Biophytum sensitivum, Oxalis corniculata, Tribulus lanugenosus, 

 Aspidopterys nutans, A. hirsuta, Eeinwardtia indica, Elwocarpus 

 wallichii, Corchorus capsidaris, C. urticmfolius, Triumfetta rhomboidea, 

 Grewia humilis, Columbia floribunda, Buethneria pilosa, Melochia cor- 

 chorifolia agati, Citrus medica, Cordia myxa, Taliera, Bixa orellana, 

 Phyllanthus, Pentapetes phamicea, Eridendron pentandrum, Thespesia 

 popidmea, Hibiscus solandra, Sida conjlifolia, S. glutinosa, Hopea odo- 



