1140 Report on a Route from Pakung Yeh [No. 132. 



and although the roads were naturally so very bad, the Burmansat the 

 time they expected an attack from us in that quarter, determined on 

 entirely destroying this medium of communication, and accordingly 

 scarped part of the road, in others felled trees across it, and so com- 

 pletely closed the passage, that for more than two years not a single 

 individual has passed that way. The Talak road was not followed 

 by either of the Burman armies, the Maha Bandoolah having march- 

 ed by Aeng, both in going to and returning from Arracan ; and the 

 Arracan army after its defeat was so totally dispersed, that the men 

 which composed it striking into the mountains followed no regular 

 track, but took their chance of going straight over the hills. Taking 

 all these circumstances into consideration, as well as the risk a party 

 would run of a party being obliged to return at a time when the 

 British had left Ava, a circumstance, from the want of water and 

 coolies by no means unlikely to occur, Captain Ross determined not to 

 divide the detachment. 



Many Mughs who had been forcibly seized by the Maha Bandoolah, 

 and brought captives from Arracan, availed themselves of the oppor- 

 tunity offered by our passage of again seeing their native land ; and I 

 am told that a great number of Mughs are now scattered over Ava, 

 victims of the oppressive system of the Burmahs, who invariably drive 

 the natives of their conquered provinces from their country, and re- 

 people it with Burmahs. 



On the morning of the 1 7th, we left Cholain Mew, and leaving the 

 high road to our right struck off considerably to the southward, in or- 

 der to encamp in the vicinity of water, none being procurable on the 

 main route at this season, except by making very long marches. For 

 four months of the year, during the monsoon, water is to be met with, 

 and it was at the close of that season the Burman army passed. 

 Several thickly inhabited villages existed on both sides of the road, 

 and we passed through one of considerable size called Paung-lahong, 

 two miles beyond which we encamped, on the brink of a large jheel. 

 It was most gratifying to remark the confidence now reposed in us 

 by the villagers, so very different from the conduct hitherto pursued 

 by them since our arrival in Ava. No longer forsaking their houses 

 and flying with their families and effects into the jungle, they quietly 

 pursued their daily avocations, and only noticed our approach by 



