30 



bamboo-joints. I always wondered why Karens, especially those who live near pine forests, 

 took BO much care not to light jungle fires, but this present occasion explained the reason. 



2Slh April, 1871. I returned through the burning forest, which now oiTered a deso- 

 late aspect with its scorched leaves, smouldering trunks and dense smoke. On arriving 

 at Tau pya, I met my elephants which I sent on at once. Here I made enquiries 

 as to the direction from whence the fire was first seen coming, and it was unanimously 

 pointed out to me to have oome from the other side of the Suay myoung ben choung. 

 This satisfied me that none of my men could be blamed for the occurrence and I 

 marched on over the toungyas crossing the Palo choung and ascended the opposite 

 ridge, where I fell in with our old route and encamped at a little choung behind the Suay 

 nyoung ben choung. 



2lst April, 1871. "We went on to our old camp at Thabyi choung where we stayed 

 for the night. The jungle fires had not touched the toungyas on the ridges we had passed, 

 but reappeared along the outskirt and interior of the Evergreen forests ; a sure sign that 

 the fire had been caueed by Karen honey-hunters, groups of whom had passed us. 



22iid April, 1871. Moved onwards to Sa-wa-yua, a Shan settlement and encamped in 

 a bordering swamp-forest. 



23rd April, 1871. Returned to Toungoo and put up at Mr. Graham's, the zyat being 

 occupied by other parlies. 



Year 1868. 



l\th May, 1868. Toungoo. Started by boat for Rangoon, but did not come further than 

 to the junction of Toukyeghat. Vegetation savannah and savannah forests on alluvium. 



12ch May, 1868. Continued our journey to a village the name of which I do not re- 

 member. Along the banks (alluvium) grew chiefly Amarantus spinosus, Clienopodium album, 

 Mollugo spergula and M. glinus, Portulaca oleracea, Bonnaya veronicaefolia, Vandellia Crustacea 

 and V. multijlora, Cyperus umbellatus, G. Haspan, C. pygmaeus, C. Irio and G. vulgaris, etc. 

 Eclipta ereda, Pongatium, Conyza Aegyptiaca, Gnaphalium Indicum and G. niulticeps, Pliysalis, 

 Sphaeranthus, Colocasia virosa, Trichosanthes integrifulia, Grangea maderaspaiana, Nicoliana 

 Tabacum, Scucharum spontaneiim, Mleusiiie, Nasturtium JBengalense, Heliotropium Indicum, Den- 

 tella, Hedyotis paniculata, H. bijiora, etc. Ammannia Indica, Jussiaea, Blumea Wightiana and 

 other species, Fimbristylis diphylla, F. miliacea, etc., Ageralutn, Polycarpum drpressiim, Bud- 

 dleia, holepissquarrosa, Thespis dimricata, Polygonum, Indigof era, Athroisma laciniatum, etc. etc., 

 in fact all the usual river-bank-weeds. Vegetation on the elevated alluvial lands savannah 

 forests and savannahs. 



\Zth May, 1868. The uniformity and flatness of the country continued, as also the 

 savanuah forests and savannahs, but at Hmon lower mixed forests with teak interrupted the 

 monotony somewhat. Slept somewhere before Gnatang-kweng. 



14<A May, 1868. Country and vegetation the same as on former days. Our progress 

 was but slow, the boat being a heavy one and the water in the Sittang very low. Slept at 

 Mo-mhaka. 



Ibth May, 1868. Country and vegetation unchanged. Arrived at dusk at Swaygyin. 



16/A May, 1868. Remained at Shwaygyin. 



17^A May, 1868. The hills at Shwaygyin approach the Sittang and small patches of 

 lower mixed forests with a little teak stretch almost to the river's bank on the left side, while 

 the alluvial land to the west remains covered with savannah forests, extending as far inland 

 as the eye can reach. At Donzarit an almost pure, but stunted teak forest occupies the late- 

 rite ridge on which the pagoda stands. The base of the spur is skirted by teiwa, but the 

 ridge itself further up is covered by an almost pure wapyu galey jungle. A heavy thunder- 

 storm compelled us to remain at Thayet tamin. 



\Wi May, 1868. An almost pure baup (5efea /ronf/osff) savannah forest was passed 

 before reaching Karway, where I intended to visit the springs at Zalot-gyi, but soon found 

 that the state of my health was not equal to the occasion. The laterite ridges, however, around 

 the place gave me a good harvest. On returning to my boat, we dropped down as far as 

 the Sittang station. The tidal vegetation commences about half way between Karway and 

 this place, and the salt-loving plants which first appeared were Hibiscus (iliaceus, Derris scandena 

 and Wollastonia. A willow {Salix tetrandra) was not unfrequently met with. After leaving 

 this place the ranges retreated from the banks of the Sittang more and more and I soon found 

 myself again in uniform alluvial lands, but now influenced by the sea. In consequence of 

 this the vegetation gradually betook the character of tidal savannahs and tidal savannah 

 forests, interspersed with Tamarix, Thespesia pojmlnea, Pluchea, Erythrina ovali/olia, Paritium 

 tiliaceum, etc. Slept at Guebin zeik. 



20// May, 1868. After leaving Guebin zeik the stream widens considerably, and be- 

 comes a vast mass of water from which the low eavauuuh trees emerge along the horizon. 



