J 837.] from Ava to the F?'ontier of Assam. 267 



effect. My position is in front and a little to the left of the Myo- 

 wun, and we are completely surrounded hy the soldiers, whose huts 

 are in distinct lines, the men of each district keeping together." 



On the 22nd they at length set out, and the style of march was as 

 little in accordance with the military experience of our traveller, as 

 the previous encampment. "The men, to the number of 800, march 

 in single file, and each man occupies a space of six feet, being oblig- 

 ed to carry a bangy containing his provisions, cooking pots, &c. 

 besides his musket, which is tied to the bangy slick. This is the 

 most common mode of marching, but some of them carry their pro- 

 visions in baskets, which they strap across their forehead and shoul- 

 ders, leaving their hands free to carry their muskets ; but as to using 

 them it is out of the question, and I should say the whole party are 

 quite at the mercy of any tribe who choose to make a sudden attack 

 upon them." On reaching the encamping ground, however, these 

 men gave proof how well they were adapted to this mode of travelling, 

 for in an hour after their arrival, every individual had constructed a 

 comfortable hut for himself, and was busily engaged cooking the 

 rice, which, with the addition of a few leaves plucked from certain 

 shrubs in the jungle, forms the diet of the Burman soldier on the line 

 of march. 



The tract of country through which the party passed on the first 

 two days was hilly, and abounded in a variety of fine forest trees ; 

 but on approaching Numpoung , the second encampment, the country 

 became more open, and the pathway led through a forest of very 

 fine teak trees. The principal livers all flowed from the Shuedoung- 

 gyi range of hills on the east of their route, and are at this season 

 of the year mere mountain torrents, with so little water in them, that 

 the path frequently passes over their rocky beds. The whole route 

 from Mogaung to the Hdkong valley, may be described generally 

 as passing between defiles, bounded by the inferior spurs of the 

 Shuedoung-gyi range on the east, and numerous irregular hills on 

 the west; these defiles form the natural channels of numerous 

 streams, which, flowing from the heights above, and struggling 

 amidst masses and boulders of detached rock, make their way even- 

 tually to the larger stream of the Numltong, which unites with the 

 Namyen at Mogaung. The only traces of inhabitants perceptible in 

 the greater part of this route were a few cleared spots on the hills in 

 the vicinity of some scattered Kakhyen villages, and a few fishing 

 stakes in the mountain streams. Near the mouth of the Numsing 

 Khyoung the party met with a few Kakhyen huts, which appear to 



