KHAiMTI TO INDIA 



As far as the eye could reach stretched rice-fields, yellow as 

 the plains of Lombardy. A splendid territory, fertile in soil and 

 abundant in water, where tropical and temperate culture flourish 

 side by side, and the inhabitants are protected on three fronts by 

 mountains. That they were fairly opulent was to be assumed 

 from the silver bracelets of the children and the small Indian 

 coins used as buttons. Indeed, nothing would appear to be lack- 

 ing to the happiness of the people of Khamti. Only beware, 

 you light-hearted folk, you are perilously close to the British 

 leopard. His appetite is enormous : sooner or later, be it from 

 the mountains of Assam, or from the South, he will place his 

 paw upon you and bring you under his "dominion." There is 

 no escape for you, ruler ot Khamti ! King Theebaw's lot awaits 

 you unless you humbly give in jour allegiance to the Empire of 

 India. If you do this, you may perhaps retain your title, pleasures, 

 and a shadow of authority ; you will receive presents and become 

 as one of the hired servants ; but, — dare to lift your head, and 

 you will be smashed like a vase of which the pieces are thrown 

 away and never spoken of again. 



We approached the capital, which, save for slightly larger 

 dimensions and a higher stockade, was not distinguishable from 

 other villages. They led us direct to a small pavilion outside, 

 like a music kiosk, clean and well built. Four columns sup- 

 ported a demi-cone-shaped roof ot rice-straw thatch. Round the 

 cornice were panels painted on a white ground to represent 

 seated Buddhas with a flame upon their heads, cars drawn b}' red 

 horses, and devadas dancing. These were like what one had met 

 with at Laos, onlv rougher. Without the fence that surrounded 

 this building long bannerols fluttered from bamboo poles. For 

 ourselves we could have preferred better board and worse lodg- 



