( 124 ) 



by Homars, Tswabaws, or Powmines or their nearest of kin, and is 



supposed to protect the wearer from evil. Like other wild tribes, 



they were most inquisitive, and if let alone, nothing would have 



escaped fingering ; but I had to keep them out of my cabin, and 



satisfy their curiosity with a description of all articles they 'referred to. 



They seemed pleased when I mentioned having recently visited 



some Kakhyen villages, and spoke of the great civility and kindness 



that had been shown me: but evidently the idea brought a spirit of 



jealousy to the surface, for PoungKullo immediately invited me up to 



his brother's village, with every assurance of comfort and safety. He 



resides in the hills to the .north-east some fifty miles off, and the 



journey to and fro can be accomplished in a week. Time would 



not admit of my availing myself of his offer, or I should have done 



so, with every confidence. I presented Poung Kullo with a white 



muslin gong-bong, and his principal attendant, with a couple of yards 



of Turkey red, with which they seemed perfectly satisfied, and took 



their departure. After they had left, the guide provided by the 



Governor, sent word through my interpreter to say I had been most 



indiscreet in allowing these treacherous people to come on board ; 



their only object being to estimate the amount of plunder 



and arrange for an attack at some future time. I believe this 



is a system they carry out among Burmese traders, but merely in 



retaliation for similar acts of dishonesty. I firmly believe the Kak- 



hyens are honestly inclined when only fairly dealt with : it 



is seldom one hears of their breaking faith in trading transactions ; 



in fact, so much reliance do traders place in their word, that large 



advances are made on goods promised. 



208. In half an hour we were abreast of Shoay-boo, where some 

 half dozen Kakhyen houses peeped through the densely- wood slopes 

 on the right bank, and added materially to the poetry of the land- 

 scape, which was hourly becoming more imposing and grand. I 

 landed here, for about half an hour to get a shot at some peacocks, 

 but only managed to bag one after a good deal of trouble : with 

 Gullus ferruginous I was more fortunate, and brought away three and 

 a half brace. I also saw a fine Buceros rhinoceros, but did not manage 

 to get him. Centropus enrycercus, Palceornis magnirostris, and Coracias 

 apfds were also noticed. Teak is common, but of small propor- 

 tions ; and the following trees &c, occur : Pierordia lapida, Cordia 

 myxa,Lagerstrcemia regince (stunted); Conocarpus acwninatus, Calophyl- 

 lum, Dillenia aurea, Aspidopterys nutans, and Sida corylifolia : bamboos 

 also were plentiful. 



209. In the centre of the stream is a huge mass of serpentine 

 rock, standing ten feet out of water, it is known as the Lubine kin 

 which signifies " porpoise guard," this being the northern limit 



