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CHAPTER V. 



From Bhamo to Mun-tsoung (latitude £6°) and back via Mogoung. 



203. It appears to me advisable to submit this chapter in the 

 form of a diary, which will convey more clearly and impressively the 

 main features of this portion of my journey, and also form a more 

 handy guide to those who may at any future time feel inclined to 

 follow in my wake. 



204. Saturday, 10th January 1874. — All arrangements were now 

 complete for my start, and I left Bhamo this evening at 4 p.m. Mv 

 followers suggested a postponement until to-morrow, as it would 

 be dark — they remarked — before we were out of sight of the 

 Residency : however, as it was only after much difficulty that I had 

 managed to get all on board, I was determined to sever them from 

 their town entanglements as far as lay in my power, for I too well 

 knew that if there was to be a repetition of the leave-taking scene, 

 the probability would have been that I should see nothing more of 

 them until the same horn- to-morrow. As mentioned elsewhere, I had 

 three flat-bottomed boats, each of 400 baskets burden, and drawing 

 three feet of water when laden ; the complement of each crew, five 

 men, three of whom were slaves who had been purchased from the 

 Kakhyens, and could speak their language thoroughly. The 

 Residency boat was occupied by myself, interpreter, and the cicerone 

 provided by the Governor, the remaining two boats being set apart 

 for my followers and stores. The early part of the day was taken 

 up superintending the shipment for Rangoon, per steamer Colonel 

 Fytche, of the Ficas elastica cuttings and plants I had collected. On 

 my return to the Residency, I found no attempt had been made to 

 take any of my kit on board the boats, and half my peons were 

 absent : this was most perplexing, for the days were now short, and 

 the luggage had to be conveyed a considerable distance, the 

 river at this season being separated from the main shore by a 

 sandbank some three-fourths of a mile wide. The Assistant Resi- 

 dent very kindly sent for my peons who were captured in different 

 parts of the town, and brought back the picture of dejection and dis- 

 appointment. It is the exception when a Burman will hurry his 

 actions for any one, but when they are forced to work against their 

 will, they are aggravatingly perverse and lazy, and I should not 

 have been able to get off this evening had not Mr. Cooper very 



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