1842 ] in Ava, to Aeng in Arracan. 1151 



I therefore doubt not but with lenity and kindness they might be 

 induced to mix with their more civilized neighbours, and become use- 

 ful members of society. 



Clearing the village of Doh, we followed the bed of the Mine river, 

 and entered a deep Pass formed by the lofty mountains through which 

 this stream runs. Rising almost perpendicular to a great height, they 

 completely hemmed us in, and their summits and sides clothed with 

 trees, now of a verdant appearance, shielded us from the rays of the 

 sun, and rendered our march very pleasant and interesting. 



On our road, we met several Kicaams with dried fish, which they 

 catch and dry here, and then take to their families. With the excep- 

 tion of these straggling individuals we saw not a soul, nor the recent 

 traces of any one during ten miles we marched through this dell. 

 We encamped at the first spot we could find which afforded sufficient 

 width to pitch a tent, and were so fortunate as to procure plenty of 

 forage, although I had been told we should find nothing for the cattle 

 but bamboo leaves. So far from that being the case, the vegetation as 

 we advanced, became more and more luxuriant; the most delightful 

 variety of brilliant foliage hung over the stream, rills of water abound- 

 ed in the mountains, and large masses of rock, torn from their original 

 site by the mountain torrents, lay here and there in the bed of the 

 river, and occasionally damming the streams up, caused it to rush 

 down in waterfalls, giving the whole scene one of the wildest and most 

 romantic appearances imaginable. Our road this day, though far from 

 good, hung over the rocks and loose stones in the course of the stream, 

 and might in a short time, with but little trouble, be made passable 

 for wheel carriages ; but during the rains I should suppose the force 

 and depth of the torrent would prevent a passage being effected. 



After winding through the bed of our constant companion the Mine 

 river for four miles, we arrived at the post of Kaong, where two or 

 three good houses remained, which had been occupied by a Burman 

 picket. At this point the river divides into two branches, and the 

 road begins ascending the mountain, the ascent for a mile is extremely 

 abrupt, as it runs up a tongue of land proceeding from the main range, 

 and which is so very steep on the sides, that the road has necessarily 

 been made almost strait up the hill. When we had ascended a couple 

 of miles, we marched on the summit of the ridge, which was not more 



