1838.] The Mergui Coast-line and Islands. 1037 



and other contrivances which they erect, and these they visit annually 

 during the fine season, for the purpose of catching- fish and drying 

 them on the different small islands. 



Beautiful varieties of mollusca and polypus also much abound amongst 

 the outer islands. 



Mergui, or properly speaking — " Myut Myo" — the principal town of 

 the Mergui province, is too well known to require any notice from me ; 

 one of the objects of my survey, however, having been to ascertain the 

 approach to it from the southward, I may as well state that it is inac- 

 cessible to large vessels, owing to an extensive flat, in many parts dry at 

 low water, which the Chinese junks and other native craft have to cross 

 over at high water. We found the greatest rise and fall of tide never 

 to amount to so much as 18 feet, although it has been stated at 21 feet, 

 and it is high water on full and change days here, and throughout the 

 limits of the survey, between ten and eleven o'clock. 



The climate at Mergui and amongst the islands seems to be very 

 good, and although much rain fell on this coast during the months of 

 June, July and August, there was a proportion of fine weather, (not- 

 withstanding the generally received opinion to the contrary,) equal to 

 what is experienced in India during the same season. The dorians and 

 mangosteen fruits, held in so much estimation by the natives, particularly 

 the former, which during the season are sent in great quantities to Ava 

 for the use of the Burman king, do not grow to the northward of Tavoy ; 

 and the mangosteen will scarcely thrive to the northward of Mergui, 

 Indeed in soil and climate, there appears to be so much affinity between 

 it and Penang, where these fruits are in great perfection, and where 

 nutmeg spices and coffee are produced, that it is very probable the 

 latter might be introduced and cultivated with success at Mergui, and 

 on many of the islands. 



I regret that I have been able to give to this sketch little more 

 than nautical or geographical interest ; and in conclusion will merely 

 point out what seems to me an object of interesting inquiry to geogra- 

 phers, I mean the exact delineation of the coast-line on the gulf of 

 Siam side, between the parallels of 8° and 12° N. so as to exhibit 

 the breadth of the isthmus within these limits, and also to ascertain 

 how far the different streams on either side approach each other. 



With intelligent officers from the Indian navy employed in the small 

 government vessels on the Tenasserim Provinces, and in the steamer 

 and other vessels under the Penang government, such a measure would 

 have the double effect of protecting the trade and performing the usual 

 duties expected of these vessels, and also of occasionally, when oppor- 

 6 p 2 



