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to me. My stock of Ficus seedlings continued to multiply : my people, 

 knowing that every plant brought me represented four annas, 

 exerted their energies ; but at the end of a day's collection, I had 

 to be careful, for I found a considerable number of Ficus luci- 

 fera presented for payment in lieu of the genuine tree. We 

 were constantly coming on elephant-paths to the water, the tall 

 grass through which they passed having been trodden down and 

 formed into regular lanes, which materially facilitated my inspec- 

 tion of the forest. Immediately on making fast for the night, where 

 there was no village, I made a man ascend the highest tree at hand 

 and see whether he could detect smoke anywhere, as the Kakhyens, 

 (now that the crops were gathered in), generally go about the country 

 in gangs, plundering whoever they can, and, of course, it was neces- 

 sary for us to be prepared for all emergencies. Moored at a sand 

 bank for the night. 



325. Tuesday, 3rd March 1874.— Thermometer 68° at 6 a.m. ; 

 heavy dew overnight. The hills were growing closer, and the river 

 less obstructive by fallen trees, but more blocked up by large ser- 

 pentine boulders, reducing the channel in places to a width of thirty 

 feet, where the water was very rapid, and great difficulty experienced 

 in clearing the gates. I ascended the highest hill, of the left bank, 

 which was 900 feet. The surrounding country, as far as the eye 

 could reach from west to north-east, was made up of a level country 

 intersected by low hills. The. high Shwe-dong peak, which is 

 opposite to Mogoung, bearing east-north-east, was conspicuous. 

 Teak of small growth was distinguishable here and there by its 

 flowering crown, but nowhere did I come on any fine specimen. 

 The Ficus elastica, however, continued everywhere to be seen, but 

 still it retained its solitary habit. A little higher up the river, I 

 noticed extensive toungga clearings on the range to the west, and 

 situated on a bluff : in the midst of the cultivation was the Kakhyen 

 hamlet, of Thakhoiv, which takes its name from the range. Dillenia 

 aurea now became more common, and my people gathered the fruit 

 which, with the addition of a little salt, they appeared to relish. 

 Stopped for a few minutes at some Shan huts on the left bank 

 known as Suckhore ; round the group of buildings was growing 

 Cajanus indica, Castor oil, Baigon, and cotton ; the gatherings from 

 the last cotton crop had been made, and the the people were carding 

 it on the principle followed in India. The bow used for this purpose, 

 was suspended from the roof by a string, and consisted of a buffalo- 

 horn and cat-gut. The current increased in velocity as far as Nan- 

 tain choung, which takes its rise in the hills to the west, and that 

 part of the Mogoung stream, south of the confluence, is known as 

 the Endow choung. A mile before reaching this point, the river was 



