1835.] Island of Rambree on the Arracan Coast. 27 



Emerging- from the plain, the traveller may either proceed to Kaeng 

 through the interior, via Maen-grah and Moreng, or take the direction 

 of the sea-heach. In either case, the features of the country are 

 much alike ; sandstone is still the prevailing rock, and in some in- 

 stances, when the upper stratum of clay has been washed away, it 

 assumes the substance of an entire hill. 



Leaving Maen-grah by a narrow path, almost concealed from 

 view by the heavy jungle protruding on each side, I observed a 

 bird that answers in description to the Buceros Homrai of Nipal. 

 Indeed, it so closely resembles a drawing of the Buceros publish- 

 ed in Part 1, Vol. xviii. Asiatic Researches, that I cannot for a mo- 

 ment doubt its identity with that bird. I shot one of the many 

 that were hopping about the branches, making a disagreeable 

 noise ; their flight was heavy and awkward, owing apparently 

 to the shortness of their wings : opening the stomach, I found 

 it filled with berries resembling those of the Peepul and Burgh'hut 

 trees ; this would seem still further to establish the opinion advanced 

 by Mr. Hodgson, that the Buceros Homrai was not a carnivorous 

 bird. Passing through the large village of Moreng, the road to Kaeng 

 lay over an extensive plain, covered with clumps of trees, the most 

 conspicuous among which were the Girjan, Tilsah, and wild Peepul. 

 Large flocks of the mountain minah were passing over-head, giving 

 the clear chearful chirrup peculiar to these charming birds ; and I ob- 

 served a species of jay that was new to me. It was of an inferior size 

 to the common Indian jay (Neel-kaunt) , and of a different colour ; but 

 from its shape, flight, and general appearance, there was no mistaking 

 its genus. The plumage of the head, back, and wings was of a pea- 

 green colour ; the under part of the belly and tail, of a lighter green, 

 and the legs and bill, yellow. Kaeng is prettily situated upon high 

 ground, not far removed from the sea, and at the mouth of a creek, 

 which separates it from the district of Ladong, surrounded by exten- 

 sive plains, clear of low jungle, and diversified with rice-fields, gardens 

 and plots of indigo sowings. This village is superior to any one that 

 I have seen on the island, both with respect to situation, and the gene- 

 ral appearance of neatness and comfort that prevails throughout the 

 place. Approaching Kaeng by the sea shore (in preference to the 

 route above described), the remains of several mud volcanoes may be 

 seen upon the hills to the left. The undulating appearance of these 

 mounds, covered throughout with a beautiful green sward, and studded 

 with a few Jhow trees, has a striking and agreeable effect amidst so 

 much jungle and similarity of aspect otherwise common to these hills. 

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