1144 Report on a Route from Pakung Yeh [No. 132. 



Napeh Mew is a very pretty and neat town, though of but inconsi- 

 derable size. It is situated on a rising ground, commanding the whole 

 plain, and rendering it a good military position ; an old teak- wood 

 stockade encircled it, and out-side other small works had existed, 

 which until lately were occupied by a body of 3,000 men levied in 

 the neighbouring districts, and forming a corps of observation. After 

 the capture of Melloon, this force broke up, and part joined the enemy 

 at Pagham Mew, whose defeat it shared. 



The district of Napeh contains twenty-four villages and 4,000 in- 

 habitants, of whom 300 were obliged to bear arms during the late 

 war, but they limited their warlike efforts to the care of their own 

 district. Napeh Mew is the last Burman town or village. Towards the 

 mountains, a few hamlets exist further on ; but are inhabited by those 

 Kicaams who have placed themselves under the authority of the 

 Burman Government. It was in the paddy ground belonging to one 

 of these villages, called Doh, that we encamped near a small rivulet 

 bearing the same name. 



The inhabitants of the place at first were running off, but being 

 re-assured, returned and gave us a good opportunity of remarking the 

 difference between this tribe and the Burmahs. 



In appearance the men are much inferior to their neighbours, their 

 countenances being flater, and not so regular as the Burmahs; the 

 dress also differs, and is very simple, a black cloth striped with red 

 and white is thrown over the shoulders, a black cloth is worn round 

 the loins, and a black jacket is occasionally used. They bind their 

 hair with a fillet of black or white cloth, and with a spear, a cross- 

 bow and a quiver full of arrows, a dah and a pouch to contain tobacco 

 and betel, their dress is complete. The women merely wear a black 

 petticoat reaching to the knees, and adorn their necks and the hem of 

 their garments with cowries and glass beads ; all the menial offices of 

 the house devolve upon them ; they procure water for the daily con- 

 sumption, pound paddy and dress the food of the men, who are gener- 

 ally employed in fishing or tilling the land. The young Kicaam girls 

 are rather pretty than otherwise, but a custom which has been handed 

 down to them by their ancestors, stamps many of them with the brand 

 of ugliness, and renders them most hideous objects. This consists in 

 tattooing the whole face in segments of circles with a blue mixture, 



