1842.] in Ava, to Aeng in Arracan. 1143 



beautiful appearance, and seemed quite a delightful spot when com- 

 pared with the cold but arid scenery around. At the foot of the hills, 

 the Mine river wound about in the most circuitous manner, and en- 

 riched a little verdant space of ground where a village formerly stood ; 

 the only spot like vegetation we could see around us, and where we 

 consequently pitched our camp. The Shoecotah* is held in the great- 

 est veneration by the Buddists, as containing the impression of Gaud- 

 ma's feet ; one of these is on the summit, and the other at the base of 

 the hill. These are railed in and covered over by splendidly carved 

 and gilt temples, and attended by Phoongees,t who inhabit the 

 Kioums,J at the side and foot of the hills. Pilgrims from all parts of 

 the empire flock here to offer up their prayers, and as we entered the 

 valley, the repeated tollings of the bells indicated that some suppliant 

 was on the point of preferring his requests to the deity. The Burman 

 Government derives some profit from the Shoecotah, by exacting a tax 

 on the richer class of devotees, of from twenty to fifty rupees, accord- 

 ing to their rank, and they are then allowed to pray within the rail- 

 ing which surrounds the foot. No tax is levied on those suppliants 

 who content themselves with prayers outside the railing, but none are 

 allowed to enter the sacred precincts without paying the fine. The 

 unsettled state of the country of late has of course prevented the Pa- 

 goda being as much resorted to as formerly, and we found there but 

 very few devotees. The ascent to. the temple is by means of a flight 

 of stone steps, 970 in number, and is covered from the weather by a 

 wooden roof supported by numerous pillars. 



During our march on the 21st, we followed the course of the Mine 

 river for several miles, ascending almost imperceptibly the whole time, 

 and after crossing a low range of hills, entered a delightful valley 

 about a mile in width, watered by the Mine river, with numerous 

 habitations on its banks, occupied partly by the Kicaam tribe, and a 

 little further on stood Napeh Mew. The Thanduck Woon had been 

 appointed to the charge of the district of Napeh a short time before, 

 and had preceded us to take possession of his Government, and also 

 to procure some rice for the troops, as we thought it best to provide 

 against accidents by having a few days' provisions to spare. 



* Shwezetto. f Priests. % Monasteries. 



