AVA. 7 



ti black earth which abounds in this diftridl. It is now called the 

 Irabathy. Muncbaboo, the royal refidence of the king of Bur- 

 magb, flands about twelve miles from the weftern bank, in Lat. 

 23° 38', a walled town, of a fquare form, containing four thou- 

 fand families. 



Avay the capital of the kingdom of the fame name, is feated Ata City. 

 in Lat. 21' 48', on the eaftern bank of the river, about 38 miles 

 below Muncbaboo. It is a very large city, built of wood, the 

 ftreets ftrait, and planted on each fide with trees. The king's 

 palace alone is of ftone, but mean in its architecSlure. It was in 

 the fixteenth century prodigioufly populous, but was laid wafte 

 by the king oiPegu in the moft favage manner. Purchas'^ gives 

 the horrible relation. The jewellers of Europe vifited it in the 

 fame century, for the fake of its rich gems. At prefent Ava is 

 in a moft ruinous Hate, and does not contain above a thoufand 

 families. The kingdom produces fapphires and rubies of the 

 higheft quality. Mention is made of its rich mines of copper, 

 lead, and lilver. Other provinces are rich in gold. 



From the city the river aflumes the fame name of Jva, takes 

 a fmall curvature from thence towards the weft, and the channel 

 becomes full of ifles. '^e-xv Pegongfneiv, a town feated in a fterile 

 fandy country, and which, from the remains of numerous pa- 

 godas, feems formerly to have been a place of importance, the 

 jiva takes a more foutherly courfe. Between Lat. 20* and 19° 

 north, the weftern fide is filled with an immenfe foreft of teek Teek Wood;. 

 trees, which is faid to produce the beft timber of any in India ; it 

 is floated down the river, and is a confiderable article of com- 



♦ Vol. ii. 1728. 



merce. 



