1837.] from Ava to the Frontier of Assam. 268 



both difficult and dangerous, one boat being upset and a man drowned. 

 The banks of the river were covered with a dense and impervious jun- 

 gle, which extended nearly the whole way to Mogaung, and no village 

 served to beguile the wearisome monotony of this portion of the jour- 

 ney, until they reached Akouktoung, a small hamlet on the right bank 

 inhabited by Phwons and Shans. Here they met a chief of the Lap- 

 hae Singphos, who had taken up his residence in this village with a 

 few followers, in consequence of a feud with some neighbouring tribes 

 in his own country to thenort'h. Between Akouk-yua and Tapoh (the 

 next village seen) the bed of the river is filled with rocks and rapids, 

 which render the navigation exceedingly dangerous, the stream shoot- 

 ing over them with such velocity as frequently to rise above the bow 

 of the boat, which, in case of unskilful management, would be instant- 

 ly upset. The way in which the Phwons and Shans overcome these 

 difficulties, formed a striking contrast to the conduct of the Burmah 

 and Kathay boatmen. The former working together with life and 

 spirit, still paid the strictest attention to the orders given by the head 

 boatman ; while the latter " who think," says Captain Hannay, " that 

 nothing can be done without noise, obey no one, as they all talk at 

 once, and use the most abusive language to each other." He thinks 

 the Phwons and Shans greatly superior to the Burmahs or Kathays, — 

 meaning by the latter those Manipuris resident in Ava, who are Bur- 

 mans in every thing but origin. 



After passing the last rapids at Tapoh the river expands in breadth 

 to 200 yards ; the stream flows with a gentle current, and " the bed is 

 composed of round stones which are mostly quartz. Amongst them, 

 however there are found massive pieces of pure crystal stone, partak- 

 ing of the nature of talc, and also pieces of indurated clay of different 

 colors. The banks are alluvial on the surface, but towards the base 

 and near the edge of the river the soil becomes gravelly, and in some 

 places has a stratum of beautiful bright yellow-colored clay inter- 

 secting it." 



On the 5th of January the party disembarked from their boats, and 

 as the Myo-wun was to be installed in his new government, the land- 

 ing was effected with considerable state. " Arrangements," says 

 Captain Hannay, " had been made for our reception, and on first 

 landing we entered a temporary house where some religious ceremony 

 was performed, part of which was the Myo-wun supplicating the 

 spirits of three brothers who are buried here, and who founded the 

 Shan provinces of Khanti, Assam, and Mogaung, to preserve him from 

 all evil. After which ceremony he dressed himself in his robe of state, 

 2 m 2 



