281 Literary Intelligence, Sfc. [No. 3, 



Manclaley, January 7th, 1862. 



About my going up the river, or any one's going up the river, to 

 see what can be done at Bamo towards piercing China, I have done 

 nothing. The attempt moreover to go into Yunan at present, would 

 be suicidal. Though the account in the newspapers of a Burmese 

 embassy being sent back from that province is unfounded, for no 

 such embassy was ever sent, yet the whole province is still disturbed, 

 and the fierce civil war which has so long stopped all commercial 

 transactions is only succeeded by the suspicious calm of a successful 

 insui'rection on the part of the Mttssalman Chinese, or " Panthees," 

 " Panjais," " Panseys," as they are variously named. 



These Chinese disciples of Mahomedanism, are now dominant 

 throughout the South- West part at least of the province, and hold the 

 few roads into Burmah. That road which debouches at Bamo runs 

 through the battle-ground, and the people are yet afraid to trust 

 their persons or their property to the chances of safe transit. Some 

 wealthy merchants who had made the attempt, arrived here about a 

 month since stript of every thing but their clothes. The Chinese 

 (here) have a fortnightly dawk from Bamo, and have heard no news 

 yet, which gives them any hope of the traffic being reopened this year. 



Some of the " Panjais" arrived here a few days ago, but not from 

 Bamo, they came by a route which has been ecmally abandoned dur- 

 ing the civil strife, but which being more immediately in their exclu- 

 sive power, has been the first to be reopened, by that from " Momuen" 

 through " Theinnee" The whole distance is a tedious land transit, 

 almost due west,— bullocks, asses, and mules bearing the dried pork, 

 opium, walnuts, &c, that form the greater part of their merchandise, 

 copper (and zinc ?) too in small quantities is said to form a part of 

 these imports. More of these are expected to come by this same 

 route, but none of the Bamo caravans are hoped for. The Chinese 

 are the reverse of communicative, but what they have told me in con- 

 versation, confirms other sources of information to the effect, that the 

 Bamo route is closed either for going or coming, to Chinese as well 

 as foreigners. 



On the 1st November, I left Thyctmyo, and have heard not a 

 word from the authorities on the Pegu side of the frontier, since my 

 departure. Such are the facilities of communication ! I have been 

 kept in daily expectation of the arrival of dawk boat or Steamer, or 



