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from the Shan states, which is sent to Bhamo, and thence reaches 

 the capital ; the manufacture of shamshoo is likewise a source of 

 considerable profit to them, the liquor being largely consumed both 

 by the inhabitants of Mogoung and the mountaineers. The re- 

 mainder of the community is made up of Burman traders from 

 Bhamo and Mandalay, with a sprinkling of Mahomedan and 

 Suratee pedlars, who bring piece goods and an olla podrida collec- 

 tion from Mandalay, which they barter for whatever there is a 

 demand, far south of this. The place is kept remarkably clean, 

 the system of sanitation being that in force at Bhamo. Every pre- 

 caution is taken to guard against fire, though, nevertheless, this 

 place is in flames once a year. At 9 p.m., a patrol goes round with 

 a drum to remind the people of the Governor's order, and the 

 punishment that awaits the party who is found with a light or fire 

 in his house after the mandate has been proclaimed. The roads 

 are well-avenued with fruit trees, principally mango (now com- 

 mencing to flower), jack, and tamarind : around the monasteries 

 and private buildings, limes, oranges, guavas, papaw, and plain- 

 tains are common. Once a week, a market is held in the main 

 street between the hours of 7 and 9 a.m., when the neighbouring 

 villages send in for sale, grain and native vegetables, chiefly con- 

 sisting of wild roots and herbs ; sun-dried venison is also common, 

 but the system of curing makes it unpalatable to Europeans. The 

 people of Mogoung also expose for sale, on these days, ngapee, lapet, 

 salt, sugar, candles, thread, needles, tamines, loongijees, piece-goods, 

 beads, and endless tawdry, which sell well among the Kakhyens 

 and other tribes that flock in here, on market days. The stalls are 

 generally kept by women, who are remarkably shrewd and business- 

 like, both in the art of buying and selling. 



305. The rupee is the only recognized coin, and that merely 

 realizes ten annas ; purchases of smaller value are paid for in bits 

 of silver at the current rates, so that it becomes necessary for both 

 vendors and buyers to be provided with scales and weights. It is 

 a tiresome process of exchange and a most wasteful one, a loss in 

 chipping off wee pieces of silver from the larger block to equalize 

 the balance, being unavoidable. The trades are represented by 

 carpenters, silversmiths, and blacksmiths ; the first are skilled 

 workmen, and find plenty of employment in the construction of the 

 ecclesiastical buildings now greatly on the increase here ; the silver- 

 smiths are principally occupied in alloying silver for the market,* 

 but they are by no means good jewellers ; and the blacksmiths — 

 who are Shans, and but temporary residents — do a good business in 



* For further information on this subject, vide page 76. 



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