( 131 ) 



of our laws, whips, prisons, and gallows ; all their greatest atrocities 

 are committed under the influence of liquor, and actuated, in the 

 first instance, either by a spirit of revenge, or by absolute want. 

 In their sober senses, I have always found them civil, remarkably 

 hospitable, and both intelligent and ingenious ; under the present 

 Government, however, they are the dread and curse of the country, 

 and there is hardly a lowlander who would not rejoice to hear of their 

 extermination ; one old Shan, who saw my revolver, remarked — 

 " Ah ! that is the sort of thing we want, to polish off these Kakhyens ; 

 something that will kill them by twenties," and on being reasoned 

 with, as to the probability of these people being less malicious 

 if honestly dealt with, he continued, " no, we have tried to purchase 

 safety, but the bribe only kindled the jealousy of the other tribes, 

 and we cannot afford to pay every one ; they are a treacherous set, 

 and can only be likened to a dog's tail which alone keeps straight 

 when spliced to a stick." Though this animus exists between the 

 Shans and Kakhyens, nevertheless they are dependent on one 

 another for their daily wants ; and carry on a brisk system of barter, 

 the former exchanging with the latter salt, gnapee, &c, for cotton, 

 yams, paddy, pigs, &c. 



223. A large quantity of paddy is exported yearly from here to 

 Bhamo. An annual tax of Es. 10 per house is levied by the 

 Burmese authorities, but the people complain bitterly of the extor- 

 tion practiced by the tax-collector. 



224. Shot a barking deer (Cervus muntjak), two Grus antigone (both 

 females), painted partridge, quail (small button), and peacock. Noted, 

 Zanclostomus tristis, Hydrocessa albirostris, Halcyon pileata, plot us melan- 

 ogaster, and Passer indicus very common. 



225. Vegetation : DiUenia,Xaudea, Hopea, Terminalia, Fid pentap- 

 tera, Gordonia, Grislea, Greuia, Phyllanthus, Eosa,Thunbergia, Calamus, 

 Daphne, Jasminwn, Saceharum, and cynodon dactylon ; sugarcane is also 

 cultivated (the red variety). 



226. Started for Tsinibo at 3 p.m., reached there by 7 p.m.; 

 water remarkably strong. There was a rise of one foot in the river 

 last night. 



227. Friday, 16th January 1S74. — Tsimbo, a Shan and Shan- 

 Burmese hamlet of fifty-five nouses, enclosed in a double stockade, 

 occupying a rising site on the right bank. Heavy fog up to 8 a.m. 

 Thermometer 53° at 6 a. m., a rise of three feet in the water during 

 last night. The river here is about five hundred yards across, 

 but encumbered with shoals and sand-banks. Sesamum indicum 

 is cultivated to some extent, and oil expressed in the ordinary 

 mill of the country. Started to examine the poisonous spring 



