Frontier between Ava and Part of Bengal. 33 



naphuli to Ava, through the country of the Jo ; but I am not 

 acquainted with the authority on which Mr Walker has pro- 

 ceeded ; this, however, from the manner in which it is laid 

 down, would seem to be from an actual survey, and is there- 

 fore probably correct, so that the height of the land can only 

 be the boundary towards the northern extremity of the dis- 

 trict of Chatigang, concerning which, I am now about to treat. 



The total width of the mountainous region, between the 

 Naaf on the side of Bengal, and Zhaenbrugiun on the side of 

 Ava, is about 124? miles east and west; one-half of which pro- 

 bably is watered by rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal, and 

 the other by streams running towards the Erawadi.- The 

 whole of this space is occupied by rude tribes alone. As we 

 advance farther north, the width of these wilds increases by 

 low hills adjacent on the west to the Mugg mountains of Ren- 

 nell, and which, on the Karnaphuli, extend about twenty miles 

 west from these mountains, which, by the Bengalese, are there 

 called Barkal. 



The Bengalese, and the rude inhabitants of these hills, have 

 an utter abhorrence at each other, and their manners, in al- 

 most every thing, are opposite, the rude tribes having more 

 resemblance to the people of Ava, and even of Europe, than 

 the Hindus have. Even their manner of cultivation is totally 

 different. The natives of Gangetic India, especially, altoge- 

 ther neglect land that is not level ; while the rude tribes con- 

 sider such as nearly useless, and cultivate the hills alone. Not- 

 withstanding their mutual abhorrence, this in some measure 

 prevents encroachment ; and the low hills, running north from 

 Islamabad (the abode of Faith) to the Phani, are allowed to 

 remain in possession of the rude tribes called Tripura, Jumea, 

 and Chakma. These people seem to have no dependence on 

 the chiefs of their respective nations. In their jooms they 

 rear cotton, rice, and ginger, and a great part of the first and 

 last they exchange with the Bengalese for salt, iron, earthen- 

 ware, and fish. They have no black-cattle ; but rear hogs, 

 goats, and poultry, and seem to be in easy circumstances. 

 They are subject to predatory attacks from the Kungkis, no- 

 minally dependent on Radun Manik. 



To the east of these hills is a fine valley watered by the 



VOL. III. NO. I. JULY 1825. c 



