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be undertaken, and that lie would provide me with the necessary 

 escort and coolies, with the consent of my guide, for whom I ac- 

 cordingly sent at once, with the view of confronting them ; it was 

 amusing to see how readily the former changed, when the latter 

 expressed his disapprobation ; and a decided answer was postponed 

 until the next day. 



337. Sunday, 15th March 1874.— Thermometer, 63° at 6 a.m. 

 Slight fog. The early part of the morning was spent arranging my 

 young plants in a cool place. My guide, and the head-man of the 

 village, were sent for again. I was quite prepared for disappoint- 

 ment, and was not surprised at the tissue of lies that were told me — 

 not only on this occasion was the disturbed state of the country given 

 as an excuse, but I was actually told there was not a single man in 

 the village available. I felt now, the sooner these men were out of 

 my sight, the better for us both. I despatched Yan Sing with a 

 letter to the Governor at Mogoung, soliciting his assistance, but my 

 last interview with this old charlatan did not lead me to hope for 

 any good result from my appeal. My object in wishing to make 

 this excursion, was not alone to see the serpentine mines, but likewise 

 to fix the limit of the Ficus elastica in that direction, having already 

 satisfied myself, on this point to the east of Mogoung, the Endawgyee 

 choung, and south of the lake bearing the name of the latter. 



338. Monday, 16th March 1874.— Thermometer, 69° at 6 a.m. 

 Cloudy and muggy this morning. I had hoped that this foretold rain, 

 for the benefit of my plants. The whole day was spent in arrang- 

 ing my botanical, and other specimens. During my ramble this 

 evening, I came on a good deal of poppy cultivation. Cows and 

 bullocks were scarce here, buffaloes of a very fine breed taking 

 their place ; goats and sheep, there were none. 



339. Tuesday, 17th March 1 874.— Thermometer, 72° at 6 a.m. ; 

 cloudy morning : rain threatened, and a few drops fell overnight. 



340. Wednesday, 18th March 1874.— Thermometer, 72° at 6 a.m. 

 Rain overnight : morning clear, but close. A boat just in, with 

 jade, reported that they had been fired on, about Nan choung : the 

 women in the boat having detected the Kakhyens concealed in the 

 bushes, fired on them, killing one man : the steersman's cloth was 

 shot through, and the bullet-hole was shown me. 



341. Thursday, 19th March 1874.— Thermometer, 69 at 6 a.m. 

 Slight mist : I found this morning, that twenty of my Ficus elastica 

 seedlings had been stolen, and in the afternoon, the same number 

 were, strange to say, brought me for sale. I represented this to 

 my guide, and laid claim to the seedlings, by certain distinguishing 

 marks ; fortunately, these were apparent to him, though I must con- 

 fess they were not to me ! The result was, however, that they were 



