1836.] lying north of the Tenasserim Provinces. 703 



supplying any. Pha-bho's son however, procured some rice ; as to eggs or 

 fowls, they were out of the question. 



" \\th. Direction N. W. Distance, 9 miles. 



" The road to-day was either rocky or covered with round water-worn pebbles, 

 and lay among low rocky hills scantily covered with vegetation and stunted 

 scattered trees. Pha-bho's son was engaged in eating a buffaloe, which he had 

 sacrificed to the Nats, and did not accompany us. He sent a guide, however, 

 and is to follow us to-morrow, 



" \2th. Direction W. N. W. Distance, 15 miles. 



" First part of the road rocky and bad as yesterday, but the latter part more 

 level and less stony. Passed one or two small villages, around which was 

 a little of the most slovenly cultivation, chiefly cholum. Halted at the village 

 of Bantoe, 109 of about thirty houses under the nephew of the last Pha-bang 

 (a chief's title). At this village there was a poor woman brought in two days ago, 

 from a party of about three hundred people seized by Pha-bhong from the 

 village of Tongpak 106 (Burman Shans) which they left a smoking ruin a few days 

 ago. The story which she told in the fullness of her grief is replete with all the 

 horrors that are attendant on such diabolical scenes. The Kayens attacked the 

 village, it appears, with bravery, (but the Shans are cowards,) and her husband 

 was cut to pieces in her arms, and she kicked by the savages from his bleeding 

 body. Many of the Kayens were killed, but they succeeded in carrying off all 

 the inhabitants. She saw her two daughters in their rapid flight, but was sepa- 

 rated from them two days ago. The respectable individual at the head of this 

 village took her as his tenth of the captives taken by his people. She does not 

 know where her daughters are carried to. What adds to the helplessness of 

 her situation, is that she is far gone with child, and is the only one of her 

 village here. 



" 13th. Direction N. W. Distance, 14 miles. 



" Reached Pha-bho's residence (called Dwon Talwee) u0 to-day after travel- 

 ling over a succession of hills on the worst possible road. 



" 14th. Sent into the village to say I wished to-day to deliver the letter 

 and presents from the Commissioner, and Pha-bho requested me to come when 

 I felt inclined to do so. I accordingly went in after breakfast about two hun- 

 dred yards to the village, which consists of seventy houses in the worst Burman 

 style, the chief's much the same as the rest, but made of wood split and fastened 

 together by wooden pegs. There is a sort of open verandah, if it may be so 

 styled, without a roof, at which we arrived by a rough sort of wooden ladder of 

 six or eight steps, all of which were loose. Here we stooped under the roof 

 which reaches within four feet of the verandah or platform of loose boards, and 

 two paces brought us into the door of his Majesty's mansion, from which one 

 step lauded us to the royal presence. This, however, I did not for some time 

 discover, as the door at which I entered was the only opening in the room, or 

 rather house, except the crevices between the boards, so that for some minutes 

 after entering it was perfectly dark. I could absolutely see nothing but a little 

 bit of fire that was in the middle of the floor. I seated myself on a carpet, and 

 the people groped their way in with the presents, and after sitting a few minutes 

 I was able to distinguish by degrees objects in the room ; not, however, so as 

 to have recognised the old gentleman if I had met him ten minutes afterwards 

 4 y 2 



