1154 Report on a Route from Pahung Yeh [No. 132. 



duce of its own soil receiving in return ivory, silver, copper, palmyra 

 sugar, tobacco, oil, and lacquered boxes.* 



It was principally to further this intercourse that the late king of 

 Ava, Mindraghee Prah, caused this superb road to be made, a work 

 which reflects the greatest credit not only on the liberal mind of him 

 who planned, but also on those who carried it into execution. The 

 labour bestowed upon it has been immense, as for nearly twenty miles 

 the road is cut out of the hill side to the width of between ten or 

 twelve feet, and that with the most judicious attention to the differ- 

 ent falls of the ground. The remains of a parapet formed of trunks of 

 trees are visible in many places, and it would be very advantageous 

 if something of the kind still existed, the precipices being most 

 terrific, and of such a depth, that if any animal lost his footing 

 and fell over, his loss would be inevitable. The Aeng road was first 

 commenced in 1816, under the superintendence of the Thanduck Woon, 

 and other chieftains, through whose territories it passed, the whole 

 plans in the first instance having been laid out by the Engineers of 

 the king. During the first two years, only 500 workmen were em- 

 ployed, but then the road having been completed nearly up to the 

 summit of the mountain, 200 more were added, who finished it as far 

 as Shoecatah, each man receiving seven rupees a month wages. But 

 what contributed more than any thing to the completion of the road 

 was, a most sensible rule enforced by the Burman Government, by 

 which in lieu of taxes on their merchandize, they obliged all the 

 travellers to carry with them working tools, and repair those parts of 

 the road which might require it, or facilitate the access to the water.t 

 Thus constant use, instead of spoiling the road, only improved it, and 

 it is only owing to the stagnation of commerce during the last two 

 years, and the consequent encroachment and the ravages of the mon- 

 soon, that any part of our route was bad, — for as the communication is 

 closed between May and January, the damage sustained during that 

 period must be annually repaired. 



* The trade greatly increased after the peace, but has become almost extinct since 

 the accession of Tharrawady. 



f This road has within the last three years been very tolerably repaired, all the 

 bridges which had fallen into decay restored, and a new road of upwards of twenty 

 miles in length, has been constructed from the village of Aeng down the river toward 

 the sea, so that troops, &c. may be landed below the shallows. 



