1837.] from Ava to the Frontier of Assam. 249 



first kyouk-dwen, or rocky defile, through which the river directs its 

 course. Lower down, the extreme breadth of the stream had varied 

 from one to two and a half miles, but here its width was contracted 

 to less than a quarter of a mile, with a porportionate increase in the 

 depth and velocity of the current. During- the rainy season of the 

 year, boats shoot through these narrow passes with terrific velocity, 

 and the numerous eddies caused by the projecting rocks, add greatly 

 to the danger of the passage. In this part of their course, the 

 mission frequently met large rafts of bambiis descending from the 

 Shueli river, and upon them, small baskets of pickled tea, brought 

 from the hills to the south-east of that river. This tea was said to 

 be manufactured by a race called Palong Paon, who are under 

 Momeit. At Tsingu, Captain Hannay saw three native Chinese 

 from Thengyichu or Mounyen, and several others in the service of 

 the noblemen of the court, had accompanied the expedition from Ava 

 with the view of proceeding to the Kyouk Tsein, or Serpentine mines 

 near the sources of the U'ru river, west of the Irawadi. On the 

 30th of November the party left the village of Yedan Yua, where a 

 perceptible change takes place in the character of the country and 

 river. " The latter," says Captain Hannay, " from covering an ex- 

 tent of miles is sometimes confined within a limit of 150 yards, with- 

 out rapids or torrents, as I had expected, but almost as still as 

 a lake. In some places its depth is very great being upwards of 10 

 fathoms. It winds through beautiful jungle, in which the pipal, 

 si'mal trees, and bambi'is, are conspicuous, and it has, generally 

 speaking, a rocky bed and banks, which last rise to a considerahle 

 height, and composed of sandstone, which varies from dark to a 

 white and yellow color." At the next stage, or Thihadophya, 

 Captain Hannay mentions a very remarkable instance of the tameness 

 of the fish, which are not allowed to be killed, and are found 

 from about a mile below the village to an equal distance above. 



" If rice is thrown into the water from the boat, a dozen fish, some 

 of them as much as three and four feet long, come to the surface, and 

 not only eat the rice, but open their mouths for you to put it in, and 

 they will allow you to pat them on the head, which I and some of 

 my followers actually did. Some of these fish are apparently of the 

 same species as those called in India guru and rata: indeed the 

 Hindus who are with me called them by these names. The breadth of 

 head is remarkable, and the mouth very large ; they have no teeth, — 

 at least so the people told me, whom I saw feeling their mouths." 

 This spectacle, strange as it must have appeared, was hardly more so 



