( 164 ) 



had not exceeded twelve feet. To the north-east of the village, 

 without the stockade there are seven fine specimens of Ficus elastica 

 and two of F. glomerata. They were the most healthy specimens 

 I had yet come across ; mainly accountable to their never having 

 been tapped ; orders, however, had this year been received from the 

 capital to collect the juice. Cocoanuts are grown to some extent both 

 on the main land and island ; they are reported to fruit abundantly. 

 Katcho evidently is of some antiquity, but no reliable information can 

 be gathered as to the exact date when it was founded ; nor is any 

 substantial data forthcoming regarding the Ficus elastica ; some say 

 that they are self-sown, and others, that they were planted here as 

 offerings to the ndts some seventy years ago, when Katcho was first 

 established. The type of buildings is identical with the present 

 class of architecture, and is therefore valueless for any chronolo- 

 gical purpose. The following measurement represents the dimen- 

 sions of the three finest specimens : — 



No. 1.— Height ... ... ... ... 130 feet. 



Circumference of space occupied by crown ... 750 



Ditto trunk ... ... ... 95 



Ditto inclusive of aerial roots ... 139 



No. 2.— Height ... ... ... ... 118 



Circumference of space occupied by crown ... 697 



Ditto trunk ... ... ... 89 



Ditto inclusive of aerial roots ... 127 



No. 3.— Height ... ... ... ... 115 



Circumference of space occupied by crown ... 639 



Ditto trunk ... ... ... 81 



Ditto inclusive of aerial roots ... 135 



283. Katcho. — Saturday, 31st January 1874. Thermometer 42° 

 at 6 a.m. Cold, north-easterly wind throughout the day, accom- 

 panied by passing showers. The amat called, and presented me with 

 a dish of betel-leaf and suparee-nuts ; and in return I gave him a 

 piece of muslin, some matches, and scent ; he asked also for some 

 gunpowder, which I added to his presents. He is a fine, tall, 

 athletic man, though remarkably dark for a Burman ; his general 

 conversation, mode of expression, and manners lead to the 

 idea that he is a shrewd, intelligent man of business ; he speaks of 

 the tribes within his district as being treacherous, deceitful, and 

 troublesome ; but says, he finds that kindness, blended with firm- 

 ness, is the form of government best suited to them. The overland 

 route to Mogoung he gives as follows : — 



From here to Archay, one day ... .... 10 miles. 



Archay to Tapau, ditto ... ... 25 ,, 



Tapau to Thapone, ditto ... ... 18 ,, 



Thapone to Mogoung, ditto ... ... 10 ,, 



According to this, I found our charts wrong : the Mogoung river 

 takes a more easterly course, and the Irrawaddy lies more to the 



