1836.] tying north of the Tenasserim Provinces. 613 



sandstone, previous to which they have been granite with a large portion of 

 felspar. 



" 11th. Direction North, 80 East. Time, 4 hours ; distance, 12 miles. 

 "8.40. Crossed the May-papie : good path and less precipitous. — 11.50. 

 Crossed a small dry rivulet in which rubies of small value are found. — 12.5. 

 Crossed the May-Haut* 3 about knee deep, by which the paddy between this and 

 the village is irrigated ; nearly all the paddy in the plains of the valley of May" 

 ping is cultivated in the same way. — 12.30. Halted at the village ciMaing- 

 Haut^ (pronounced by the Burmans Mein-Woot) on the west bank of the May- 

 ping, which runs to the southward and falls into the sea at BanJcoJc after joining 

 the May-nam 4i . 



" The march to-day continued to descend gradually, with a few trifling accli- 

 vities till 12 ; since which nearly level ; the climate proportionately improved; 

 the jungle has assumed the same character as on the other side of the hills, but 

 more open. 



" We are now fairly in the valley of the May-ping, and have the prospect for 

 the next three or four days of seeing something of the level country, but the 

 whole extent of the country between the Tkalween and May-ping, with trifling 

 exceptions (such as the little valley of the Mein-lun-ghee), is one succession of 

 mountains ; nearly all of the primitive series, principally gravel gneiss trap, lime 

 and sandstone. 



" We crossed the May-papie thirteen times to-day. The village Maim-Hairf con- 

 tains about sixteen houses of the most uncomfortable appearance ; it is about 12 

 days from BanJcoJc, with which the communication is frequent ; the river here 

 is about 200 yards across, and rather rapid; there are a number of palmyra, 

 cocoanut and other fruit trees, both here and on the opposite side, where there 

 is also a small village. 



" The river here is a little wider than above or below the village, and just for- 

 dable by elephants ; there are few fish in the river, and the people almost igno- 

 rant of the art of catching them. On endeavouring to procure boats as the 

 easiest conveyance for the sick, I was not a little surprised when only one small 

 canoe could be procured, in which only one of the worst cases could be sent 

 forward. 



" Remained here one day at the request of the persons who accompany me, in 

 order to transmit intelligence to Labong of our approach. 



" 16th. Direction North, 20 East. Time, 5 hours ; distance, 15 miles. 

 " 9. 15. Road lies along the foot of the western hill ; the river turns towards 

 the eastern hills, which are distant about 20 miles. — 11. 55. Crossed the 

 Nam-May-tcheem* 6 , wide 100 yards; fordable by elephants. — 1. 45. River 200 

 yards wide ; full of shoals. — 2. 5. Crossed the May-ping, and halted on its eastern 

 bank in an open jungle, where a house 47 had been built for our reception. The 

 road to-day has been nearly level and much frequented ; the whole of the valley 

 was inundated last year to a greater extent than is recollected by the oldest people, 

 the paddy being nearly all destroyed, and the people obliged to take to the hills. 



" 14th. Direction North, 30 East. Time, 5 hours, 15 minutes ; distance, 

 16 miles. 



"8.15. Road good level. — 9. 55. Grassy plains. — 1. 30. Crossed the 

 May-lie**, which falls in the May-ping four miles to the westward, wide about 

 thirty or forty yards ; halted on the eastern bank at the village of Naung-long w . 



