1842.] in Ava, to Aeng in Arracan. 1141 



running to the road-side when we passed, and gazing with astonish- 

 ment at the first white faces they had ever seen. 



The difference of soil between the east and west banks of the 

 Irrawaddy at this part of the country is very surprising. The east 

 barren, arid, and parched up, particularly in the neighbourhood of the 

 Petroleum Wells, produces not the slightest vegetation; scarcely a 

 blade of grass is to be met with ; whilst the west is fertile, well water- 

 ed, abounding with fine cattle, and excellent pasturage, and produc- 

 ing all the requisites of food. Sugar is extracted from the palmyra 

 tree in considerable quantity, and saltpetre is also manufactured. 



Our road next day lay for some miles over an extensive plain laid 

 out in paddy fields, and bearing the traces of being completely inun- 

 dated during the monsoon. Indeed, I was informed, that the whole 

 country between this and the Irrawaddy, at that season of the year is 

 one continued sheet of water. After marching eight miles, we came 

 to the Mine river, a fine stream of water fordable about knee deep, and 

 forming the boundary between the districts of Cholain and Sehdine. 

 It derives its source from the Arracan mountains, and even at this 

 season presents sufficient water for small canoes, many of which were 

 plying up and down, mostly superintending the course of several rafts 

 of bamboos which are cut in the mountains, and thence floated down 

 to supply the inhabitants of the plains with materials for building 

 houses. A large and populous village stood on the bank of the river, 

 and we could discover many others lower down. 



It being desirable that we should gain the foot of the hills as soon 

 as possible, we made very long marches, and this day marched fifteen 

 and a half miles. Our camp was pitched near a jheel at the town of 

 Sehdine, chief of a small district of the same name, containing about 

 10,000 inhabitants. The town had been burned by some of the pre- 

 datory bands, who had overrun this part of the kingdom. 



On the 19th, we marched fourteen and a half miles through a high- 

 ly cultivated country, embellished with groves of palmyra and other 

 trees, and full of populous villages ; these obtained their water from a 

 small stream conducted by means of dams from the Mine river, and an- 

 swering the two-fold purpose of supplying the wants of the inhabitants 

 and irrigating the soil. At the village of Shoegoun, were many Shans, 

 who came out and offered us toddy, and here for the first time we saw 



