296 Literary Intelligence, Sfc. [No. 3, 



because the present state of things here must change. The country 

 cannot exist much longer under the present policy. That policy is 

 so much disapproved of by some of the chief men of the country that 

 it must change, 



P. S. The most reliable accounts I can get about the cotton pro- 

 duce, are that the average produce was five million viss a year. This 

 dropped on the commencement of the Yunan troubles six years ago, 

 and consequent ceasing of the cotton exportation to China, and cul- 

 tivators gave up cultivating cotton, because there was no market for 

 it. Within the last two years only has it been cultivated with a view 

 to exportation down the river. The whole produce last year was 

 estimated positively as the most correct amount by the Yo Atween 

 Woon (I can get no more reliable authority) at one million and a 

 half. 



Got another ore to-day from a hill twelve miles distant sent me by 

 the prince, a magnetic oxide in quartz, said to be plentiful. 



Mandaley, June 11th, 1862. 



I have learnt within the last few days something of the reason 

 how it was I could not get up the river. The Bamo At. Woon who 

 showed himself to one most willing to assist me, told the king about 

 my wishes to go to Bamo, and about the proposed expedition, men- 

 tioning the desire of the English to open up the commerce with China 

 by that route and to have Merchants' Agents at Bamo. His Majesty 

 did not see any reason against these measures, but the Bamo At. 

 Woon himself did, and advised the king that I should not go, and 

 that if English Merchants get up there, complications and difficulties 

 would arise, that would become serious. Another Atween Woon, the 

 frequent listener to little discourses of mine, was of opinion that the 

 revenue and advantages to be derived from English mercantile tran- 

 sactions through Bamo would be a great good, and that if the 

 English wished to try, they should be encouraged. 



This Atween Woon it was who more recently told me he would 

 manage to get me to go to the gold districts of Mogoung. He was 

 sincere ; but I suspect, from his telling me a few days ago what is really 

 the fact, that in this season, it would be impossible for me to reach the 

 spots from the overflowed state of the country, that higher authority 

 than his does not see that it would be prudent to allow me to go. 



