20 



on account of the numerous oropa of cucumbers, tobacco, hsu {Garthamm), fennel, sunn, mnize 

 etc On the more fertile shoals of the river a seconil crop of rice stood in full verdure. We 

 soon joined the Prome road along which village bordered village until we arrived again on 

 rocky ground of laterite, calcareous sandstone, gravel, etc. The road here approached very 

 near some low hills covered by small leafless trees which, on inspection, proved to be orchards 

 of the aiiza (Anom squamosa). A. patch of forest consisting chiefly of Euphorbia nemfoUa 

 was pnssed to the left; In spite of the dried up condition of the vegetation, I had a good 

 liurvest of plants, not previously found by me in Pegu. Arrived at Prome, I put up in the 

 circuit-house, where I met Mr. Buchanan of the Forest Department. 



10/A to \Bth March, 1871. I was detained at Prome much longer than I expected, as 

 my letters had miscarried, and as I had to pack and arrange my collections, engage other 

 men, repair damages sustained during my journey over the hills, and more especially on 

 account of a fall I had from my pony. , t t j 



VJth March, 1871 As no messenger returned from Oshit-toung whereto I was mformed 

 my letters had been sent, I had to change my plan of operations and set out myself in the 

 direction indicated. Burmans, when they come to a large station, usually degenerate to a cer- 

 tain degree, and become more or less unmanageable. For this reason I moved, although it was 

 a Sunday, a few miles eastwards so as to get my camp again into marching order. The 

 country consisted of shallow alluvial lands covered for the greater part with paddy cultivation, 

 but patches of jungles occurred from time to time which were all mixed dry forests, in which I 

 observed Fremna cihurmides, Azima, Congea, plenty lucora parviflora, 3 varieties of Ca]>p2ri8 

 horrula or more probably 3 distinct species, oung-n^ {Strebliis aspera), Kwe noe, Orewia mi- 

 crocos, etc. Encamped at Yay tha, only 3 or 4 miles east of Prome. 



20//i March, 1871. Our route difiered but little from that of yesterday; it led through 

 rice cultivation on alluvial grounds of a fine yellowish grey clay, occasionally interspersed by 

 wretched shrubberies, such as we find in Lower Bengal. Ficus Eiimp'ui, Posoqueria spiiiosa, 

 Azima, Euijenia Jamhotana, Dalbergia volubilis, Combretiim pilosum and C. squamosum, etc- 

 were the principal shrubs and trees. Zanonia sarcophylla was not uncommon. The toddy 

 palm forms a conspicuous feature in the landscape. Encamped at Ye ii, a village which lies 

 just at the commencement of forest-lauds. 



The eveuin<' was spent in examining the adjoining forests, which belong to the class of 

 mixed dry forests, growing here on shallow and rather stiff fine clay resting most probably on 

 gravel. The trees chiefly observed were eng in 3 varieties (one quite glabrous, the other with 

 hairy stipules but glabrous panicles, the third with the stipules, panicles and leaves beneath 

 downy); engyin {Pent acme Siamemis), phthya {Shorea obtusa), yindyke {Dalbergia cultmta), 

 Kyeo {Vitex limonifolia), gyo {Sch/eichera trijuga), lambo {Buchanania latifolia), ouk chin za 

 {Diospyros ehretioides), be byu {Ancistrocladus nerii/oliusj, hya, {Di/lenia pulcherrima), tahie 

 {Eugenia), Khaboung {Stri/chnos mix vomica), n yue {Flacourtia cataphractu), tay {Diospyros 

 Birmanica and D. cordifolia), uabbe {Odina wodier), teak, toukkyan Terminalta crenulata),eto. 

 Further Capparis hoirida var., Millettia exlensa, Pergularia odoratissima, Phoenix acaulis Inuli 

 polygonata, etc. 



2Ut March, 1871. To-day we marched through forest-lands of the same character as 

 those visited yesterday. The stiff clay seems to rest on pinkish gravel, which latter was seen at 

 the surface for a short distance, when Eug forests with Cycas Siamensis also made their appear- 

 ance. We soon entered the narrow and dusty gorges in the low steep and curiously shaped hills 

 and ranges which were 50 to 150 feet high. Laterite was seen cropiug out in several localities, 

 while the hillocks themselves consisted chiefly of stiff diluvial clay, on which Eug forests 

 grew. On the other side of these low ranges, calcareous sandstones and their decompositions 

 alteinated with laterite and alluvial deposits, and the distribution of forests became rather 

 confused, although referable to mixed dry forests and eng forests. Crossing the Pouk koung 

 and the Touug uaweng chouugs we again entered cultivated alluvium, on which Oshit touug 

 is situated; hero I met with Mr. Eisner of the forest Department. My camp, however, 

 arrived past 7 p. m. 



22iid March, 1871. A section at the banks of the Toung naweng shewed the alluvial 

 clay of about 20 leet resting on stiff plastic impermeable clay. Owing to the vicinity of the 

 Gwe choung, the cart-road brought us only through lower mixed forests of the character seen 

 in Prome and through cultivation, but after passing Kaugyi and crossing the Gwe we entered 

 Eng forests, containing the largest sized eng trees I met with in Pegu. It was an inter- 

 esting forest, but unfortunately, like all others met with on the way, jungle fires had swept over 

 the ground. Cycas Hiamensis is plentiful here, as also Leucomeris decora, Hiptage candicans 

 with rose-coloure4 flowers, Rhus paniculata, Symplocos, Eugenia, pyenkadu, Khusau, Linos- 

 toma etc. Myinwa forms the undergrowth and, having flowered, gave additional food to tlie 

 destructive fire, which enveloped the low stunted trees perfectly to a height of 20 feet. Micro- 

 7nelum pubeacens, 2 uDVf Bpeciea oi Neuracanthus and an erect low Eoxburghiacea (S^effio 

 erecta, n. sp.) were some of the interesting species I saved from the flames. Encamped 

 under a ma-u tree iu the rice-fields below Ta Kwot dheing on the Myoukuaweng choung. 



