1842.] Report on a Route from Pakung Yeh, fyc* 1137 



On the 6th March we left Yandaboo, and arriving at Pakeng Yeh 

 on the 13th, immediately commenced crossing the troops and baggage 

 in a few small canoes, the best that could be procured, but which con- 

 tained a very small load ; the whole detachment could not therefore 

 be passed over to the opposite shore until the ensuing day. The river 

 was here about 1,500 yards wide, but the current not being very 

 rapid, we were enabled to swim the cattle over by fastening five or 

 six at a time to the sides of a boat ; the elephants dashed boldly into 

 the stream, and guided by their mahouts, reached the opposite bank in 

 safety, after swimming more than a mile. 



The spot where we landed was on a long flat below the level of 

 the natural bank of the river, and consequently under water during 

 the rainy season ; it was now laid out principally in tobacco fields, 

 which plant grows in this part of the country in great abundance and 

 perfection. 



The town of Sembeghewn is four miles inland, but on the banks of 

 the river a long straggling village existed, inhabited principally by 

 those whom the advance of the British had obliged to abandon their 

 habitations, and who had not yet availed themselves of the oppor- 

 tunity offered them by the peace, of again returning to their habita- 

 tions. From these people we received every assistance ; they furnished 

 us with boats, and the women with baskets of vegetables and fish 

 came into camp and soon formed a little bazar. 



Although we were ready to move on the morning of the 15th, the 

 dilatory manner in which the Commissariat Conductor delivered 

 our twenty days' provisions to us, detained us till evening, when we 

 marched through Sembeghewn, and encamped on the opposite side. 



Sembeghewn was once an extensive and flourishing town, contain- 

 ing 3000 inhabitants, but now not a single habitation existed, the 

 Burman army when retiring having burned it to the ground. The in- 

 habitants had not yet commenced rebuilding their huts; here and there 

 they were prowling about among the embers of their houses, or from 

 the road-side looking at the passage of the troops, after we passed ; 

 however, part of our Commissariat was attacked, and three bullock 

 loads of rice taken ; a musket was also taken from one of the Sepoys, 

 but I do not believe any blood was spilt. The people in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Sembeghewn are notorious for their thefts and robberies, 



