444 Acheen. 



This is how Mr. Davison came to visit Acheen^ where very- 

 few Eno-lislimen have ever been before him^ and I must now let 

 him tell his own story. 



'' About 2 t. M., on the 31st January^ 1873^ we cast anchor 

 off Acheen Head, about two miles from shore, and a little to the 

 West of the mouth of the river. About 5 a. m., next morning, 

 I availed myself of the opportunity of going ashore by accom- 

 panying one of the officers of the ship, who was entrusted with 

 a letter to the Sultan. We soon reached the mouth of the river, 

 but although our boat was pulling eight oars, owing to the 

 extremely rapid flow of the river, and the laziness or inability 

 of the boat's crew (who were Calcutta lascars) to pull against 

 the current, it was not till after noon that we reached a kind of 

 guard-house situated on the bank of the river about two miles 

 from its mouth. Here we took on board one of the Native chiefs 

 and proceeded about a quarter of a mile further up the river, 

 when we landed and went to the town which was only a short 

 distance off. On our arrival we were asked to wait a little till 

 the Sultan should be informed of our arrival, and I was told 

 not to shoot till I had obtained permission to do so. After wait- 

 ing for some time, as the messenger whom we had sent to the 

 Sultan did not make his appearance, I amused myself stroll- 

 ing about the place, and getting what information I could about 

 the coiuitry and people ; of course I could not speak the 

 Acheenese language, but I made the acquaintance of a fine old 

 Madrassee merchant with whom I was able to converse in Tamul, 

 and to him I am chiefly indebted for what information I ob- 

 tained. Before proceeding further, I may here state that, ac- 

 cording to the native fashion, we were kept waiting till about 

 4 p. M., when a chief was sent to tell us that the Sultan could 

 not see us that day, but would be happy to see General Stewart 

 next day, about 3 P. m., and I was infoi-med that I might shoot, 

 provided I did not shoot any of his Majesty's subjects. 



" Although I enjoyed wandering about the place, I much re- 

 gretted the delay that had caused almost the whole day to be 

 wasted ; being prevented from shooting, I failed to secure /speci- 

 mens of birds which might have proved very interesting, as 

 some that I saw the first day I never again met with. I should 

 add to explain the paucity of my spoils, that although we re- 

 mained off Acheen for three or four days, I was quite unable to 

 penetrate any distance inland for want of guides ; on asking to 

 be allowed to go to the Golden Mountain, a wooded hill, 8,000 

 feet or so high, apparently some 30 miles distant, I was told I 

 might certainly do so, if I could find any one to accompany me. 

 I tried hard to do this^ but found it quite impossible to induce 



