( 133 ) 



hills, which are a continuation of those through which the river has 

 forced its way, we passed, en route, vast deserted paddy-clearings, 

 and the ruins of three Shan hamlets plundered by the Kakhyens 

 last year ; the inhabitants had to re-establish themselves on the 

 banks of the river near Tsimbo. Proceeding northwards, we follow- 

 ed the water-shed (elevation four hundred and twenty-five feet) 

 for a few miles, and commenced the descent a little before sunset. 

 Our guide now showed symptons of uncertainty as to the direction 

 he should take, and it was soon apparent we had lost our way. 

 Continued due east, which brought us to the river by midnight, 

 where we bivouaced till morning being too tired to proceed any far- 

 ther. Reached Tsinibo by 9 a.m. the next day, having overreached 

 the place last night by about ten miles. Additional plants collected : 

 Broussonetia papyri/era, Euellia indiea, Anodendron panieulatum, San- 

 talacea (climber), Yallaris solanacea, Spathodia stipidata, Eleusine, 

 AscJepiadea, Grislea, Pladera justiciordea, Dicksonia, and Pohjpoddium 

 icallichianum ; Saccharum and Arundo common. 



231. Shot a smooth-skinned bear, Urns malayanus, a civet-cat, 

 a mungoose, some painted partrigdes, and two varieties of phea- 



sauts — Polypleetron albo-oeeUatum, and Phasianus faseiatus. 



232. Saturday, 17th January 1874:. — Fog ; thermometer, 49° at 

 6 a.m. ; river fallen two feet overnight ; start at 7-30. (There is a 

 tolerably good road from here to Mogoung, which can be reached in 

 eight days easily I am told.) The Shan-Burmese villages of Tangar- 

 zoo, Pugan, TYagza, and Nahbho are the first passed ; the two for- 

 mer situated on the right bank, and the others on the left, all 

 stockaded, but none of them exceeding twelve houses. The river 

 here is divided by an island some five miles in length ; apparently 

 a disconnected portion of the main land, judging by the age of 

 the arborescent growth and course of the river. Trees, defoliated ; 

 and tobacco cultivated on the more recent disgorgements : the 

 quality of the plant is pronounced excellent by the natives ; but 

 the leaf seemed too coarse to me. We took the western channel, 

 which varies in breadth from one hundred to three hundred yards, 

 with an average depth of seven feet of water, but little charged 

 with silt. Continued to pass groups of Shan and Barman huts on 

 either bank, with plots of tobacco culture on the river-frontage. 

 Hailed His Majesty's ddk boat with royal mails from Mogoung to 

 Bhanio ; but the current was too rapid to allow of the boat stopping 

 to take my letters. The white flag with red peacock in the centre 

 was the only distinguishing Government mark. The two channels 

 unite opposite the Shan-Burinese hamlet of Noung-sa-yah : country 

 to the east continues undulating, and tolerably wooded, with 



