1837.] from Ava to the Frontier of Assam. 277 



" I have made every inquiry," adds Captain Hannay, " regarding 

 the duties levied on these people, both on their arrival here and on 

 their purchasing the serpentine, and I am inclined to think that there 

 is not much regularity in the taxes, a great deal depending on the 

 value of the presents made to the head-man. Formerly, the Chinese 

 were not allowed to go to the mines, but I understand the following is 

 now the system carried on in this business. 



" At particular seasons of the year, there are about 1000 men em- 

 ployed in digging for serpentine : they are Burmahs, Shans, Chinese- 

 Shans, and Singphos. These people each pay a quarter of a tical a 

 month, for being allowed to dig at the mines, and the produce of their 

 labour is considered their own. 



" The Chinese who come for the serpentine, on their arrival at 

 Mogaung, each pay a tax of from 1^-to k 2\ ticals of silver, for permis- 

 sion to proceed to the mines, and \\ ticals a month during their 

 stay there. Another duty is levied on the boats or ponies employed 

 in carrying away the Serpentine, but this tax varies according to 

 circumstances ; and on the return of the Chinese to Mogaung, the ser- 

 pentine is appraised and a tax of 10 per cent, taken on its value. The 

 last duty levied is a quarter of a tical from every individual, on his 

 arrival at the village of Tapo, and there the Chinese deliver up all 

 the certificates they have had, granting them permission to proceed 

 to the mines." 



On the 9th of April, no intelligence having been received of the 

 messengers sent into Assam, Captain Hannay determined to return 

 to Ava, and, embarking on a small boat, he reached Bamo in eight 

 days, and arrived at Ava on the 1st of May. The time occupied in 

 returning from Meingkhwon to Ava was only eighteen days, while 

 the journey to that frontier post was not completed in less than forty- 

 six of actual travelling, — a very striking proof of the extreme difficulty 

 of estimating the distance between remote points, by the number of 

 days occupied in passing from one to the other, unless the circum- 

 stances under which the journey was made are particularly described- 

 That portion of the route between Meingkhwon and Beesa in Assam, 

 which Captain Hannay was prevented visiting, will probably in a 

 short time be as well known as the territory he has already so suc- 

 cessfully explored, and the researches in which he is now engaged, 

 extending from Beesa in Assam to Meingkhwon in the Hdkong valley, 

 will complete the examination of a line of country not surpassed in 

 interest by any, which our existing relations with the empire of 

 Ava have afforded us an opportunity of visiting. His labours have 

 2 o 



