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214 WILD SPORTS Of BURMA AND ASSAM 



A VISIT TO UPPER BURMA 



In 1856 I determined to visit Umrapoora, the then capital 

 of Upper Burma. A little distance beyond Meaday, our then 

 frontier station, there was no regular monsoon known, rain 

 might or might not fall at any time, and during the months 

 of July and August a steady breeze blew up the Irrawady, 

 one of the straightest rivers in the world. Sir Arthur Phayre, 

 accompanied by Col. Yule and other officers, had gone 

 there on a mission previously, but although a couple of 

 officers had taken a trip there too, and nothing had been said 

 to them, yet there was a general order that Europeans in 

 Government employ were not to go across our frontier with- 

 out previously obtaining permission from the Chief Commis- 

 sioner, which it was understood would not be readily accorded. 

 So four of us determined to run the risk, and, hiring a large 

 cargo-boat and fitting it up to suit our requirements, Furlong, 

 the Superintendent of the road to Tongoop, and Scott and 

 Stephenson, his assistants, and I set out. The Burmese boats 

 can be made very comfortable ; they sail before the wind at a 

 great rate, and often have yards 120 feet across, with a sail in 

 proportion, and at times a topsail. The lie of the river is 

 north and south till within one day's sail of Ava, where it 

 takes a bend to the east. The boats hug the shore, and I 

 have seen them often pass a steamer. Leaving Prome, we 

 reached Thayet Myo in a day and a half, and halted there 

 barely twenty-four hours. Starting afresh, we reached Men- 

 loon, the first Burmese station, on the second day. There 

 the Burmese had a Custom- House, and all boats going up and 

 down were examined. The officials were very civil and gave 

 us no trouble at all. We called on the Governor, who received 

 us in grand state and was exceedingly polite, and offered to 

 show us some sport if we would remain a few days; we 

 thanked him, but declined, as we said our time was limited ; 

 in fact, we were afraid we might be recalled if we dawdled 

 near our frontier. 



Portions of the Irrawady between Meaday and Menloon 



