1837.] from Ava to the Frontier of Assam. 259 



taken all over the Burraan territories, as far west as the Khyendxven. 

 There are several cotton godowns here, belonging to the Chinese, and 

 there are constantly residing in the town 500 of these people, which, 

 with the numerous arrivals from different parts of the countrv, gives 

 the place a very business-like appearance, and there is of course a 

 good bazar." There is a very neat temple built by the Chinese of 

 Bamo, which Captain Hannay visited, and was most politely received 

 by the officiating priest. " On entering his house," says Captain 

 Hannay, " he rose to meet me, saluted me in the English fashion, 

 asked me to sit down, and ordered his people to bring me tea ; after 

 which he sent a person with me to shew me the curiosities of the 

 temple. Most of the figures were carved on wood, and different from 

 what I have generally seen in Chinese temples ; one of them repre- 

 sented the Nursinga of the Hindus. The Chinese of Bamo, although 

 different from the maritime Chinese, in language and features, have 

 still the same idea of neatness and comfort, and their manners and 

 mode of living appear to be much the same." 



" Their temple and all the houses, which are not temporary, are 

 substantially built of bricks stained blue ; the streets are paved with 

 the same material, and the grounds of the temple are surrounded by 

 a neat brick wall covered with tiles." " Besides the trade carried on 

 at Bamo by the Chinese, the Shans, Palongs, and Singphos under 

 China, are great purchasers of salt, gnapee, dried fish, and rice, but 

 particularly salt, which is in constant demand ; and to procure it, 

 numbers of the above named people come to Bamo, Sambuungya and 

 Kountoung. The salt which sells here for twenty ticals of silver for 

 100 vis, or 28 rupees for 150 seers, is brought principally from Shein- 

 maga above Ava, and from Manbti, which is situated two marches 

 west of Katha. The Shans here are distinguished by their fair com- 

 plexions and broad good-tempered faces. They wear turbans and trow- 

 sers of light blue cotton cloth ; they greatly resemble the Chinese, 

 and from living so near that nation, many of them speak the Yunan- 

 Chinese language. They inhabit the country to the east of Bamo, 

 and their principal towns are Hotha, hatha, Santa, Sanla, Moongsye, 

 Moong-woon, Moong-man, Moong-la, and Moong-tye. The people are 

 generally designated Shan Taroup or Chinese Shans." 



" Although the Palongs speak the Shan, their own native lan- 

 guage is a distinct one. The men, though small in stature, are athle- 

 tic and remarkably well made. Flat noses and grey eyes are very 

 common amongst them. They wear their hair tied in a knot on the 

 right side of the head, and dress in a turban, jacket, and trowsers, of 



