1835.] Journal of a Tour through the Island of Rambree, 203 



and even so late as during the Burmah tenure of the country, the 

 Kuman-thsis invariably attended the prince royal, or governors on 

 their journey through the several provinces of the empire ; preceding 

 them upon the road, and bearing their bows and arrows in their 

 hands. These implements of war are now laid aside, and the Kuman- 

 thsi are, in common with others, occupied in such pursuits as are 

 more congenial to the age ; being for the most part weavers and 

 dyers, and residing in a separate quarter of the town, the avowed 

 adherents to the Muhammedan faith, but ignorant of the precepts it 

 inculcates, and assimilating in practice to the rest of the population. 

 Seven generations* are said to have passed away since the event above 

 described ; yet notwithstanding this lapse of time, and in spite of the 

 similarity of language and attire, the features of the Kuman-thsi still 

 betray their superior descent ; while for beauty of stature, and agility 

 of limb, they surpass the Muhammedans of India. 



With the view of so many houses, and such a population as that 

 contained in Rambree, together with the fact of its being the second 

 city in Arracan, it is surprising to witness such apparent poverty in 

 the show of empty shops on each side of the street. Here and there 

 a Manchester shawl, a piece of chintz, or printed handkerchief might 

 be seen hung up to view, surrounded with the more homely produc- 

 tions of the country ; but the largest and best supplied shop of Ram- 

 bree would scarely be deemed worthy of notice in any one of the 

 sadar bazars of India. Few engaging in trade : the greater part of 

 the population are either idlers, day-labourers, agriculturists, or fish- 

 ermen, (as circumstances may induce,) having no regular occupation 

 calling for the exercise of a dexterous and continued application. It is 

 difficult to ascertain with precision the period of the greatest known 

 prosperity in the town of Rambree. Different accounts are given by 

 different people, according to their views, or the ideas they may enter- 

 tain. Those who admit the population and wealth of Rambree to have 

 been greater than they are at present, fix the date of such alleged 

 prosperity during the administration of the Burmah Mey-o-wun, Keo- 

 dine-Ydjah (A. D. 1805). At that time Rambree was the grand 

 emporium of trade ; so many as 60 large godahs were known to 

 enter the creek from different parts of Beugal, and proceed from 

 thence to Rangoon and Tavoy, receiving at Rambree rowannahs spe- 



* By Dow's account, it is 170 years ago. I must notice an error that the 

 historian of India has fallen into ; there is no river running from any part of 

 Arracan into Pegu ,■ the native name for Arracan proper is " PeygrV or 

 " Peyyi," (signifying a large country,) and this word has been evidently con- 

 founded with Pegu, 

 c c2 



