422 The Question of British Trade with Western China. [No. 4 



ties, and I believe that there is more chance of finding a practicable 

 breach for the charge of the iron horse between Sawuddy and Moung- 

 sun, than in any other direction. 



As above noticed, the two rivers Taping and Shoaylee that pierce 

 the range from east to west, are of no use as guides ; even their 

 tributaries render the ordinary routes impassable in the rainy season. 

 None of these mountain streams, however, are of a breadth too great 

 to be bridged in the simplest manner, and wherever bridges are 

 required, there is both timber and stone in abundance, everywhere at 

 hand. 



Once across this range of hills the physical geography of the land 

 as far as we know of it, is not unfavourable to the construction 

 of any kind of road. The Taping and Namwoon valley stretches 

 north and south from Chanda and Mola to below Mowun. That of 

 the Namoung or Shoaylee leads from Moungsun through fertile plains 

 and by large Shan towns, among which are Maingmo and Seefan, to 

 within forty miles of Momien on the left, and Yunchan on the right. 

 As the regular Chinese trade route is there reached, it is not probable 

 that any insuperable obstacles exist to carrying on the lines and 

 making new bridges over the Shoaylee, and the much more important 

 Sal ween and Cambodia, where they are already spanned by the 

 Chinese iron suspension bridges. 



I have also been informed by travellers who have been there, that 

 from Moungsun there is an almost uninterrupted plain across to the 

 city of Yunan, and that this direct route to that important capital 

 passes over no mountains whatever. 



III. — Commercial. 



As to British Burmah it is unnecessary to do more than notice the 

 fertility of the soil, its well-known production of rice and the paucity 

 of its population. 



Burmah Proper, however, requires more notice, not only from the 

 extent to which it takes our manufactures in exchange for its own 

 products, but also on account of its little known mineral wealth. 



The total value of Exports from Upper to Lower Burmah in the year 

 1862-63, was in round numbers 43 lakhs of Eupees, of which 38i lakhs' 

 worth went down by the Irrawaddy. This amount included — Sesamum, 

 oil and seed, 6 lakhs ; raw cotton 4| lakhs \ jaggery 5 J lakhs ; petroleum 



