1 839.] Mission to the Court of Siam. 1017 



wait for the elephants which have not arrived. Nothing can be more 

 uninteresting than the banks of the Attran and Zimee, winding to 

 every point in the compass, through an alluvial soil with banks of 

 considerable depth, and covered with rich arborescent vegetation to the 

 water's edge. After passing the villages on the first day, nothing is to 

 be seen from the boat^ except an occasional solitary alligator, gnanah, 

 king-fisher, or snake bird. We met three rafts of timber, in all about 

 260 pieces, floating slowly down the stream. The river though of great 

 depth, having upwards of three fathoms opposite our halting place, 

 can discharge only a very small quantity of water from the small 

 declivity in its channel, consequent sluggishness of its course, and 

 great height to which the tide reaches up it. Though the most produc- 

 tive river in the provinces in teak, its timber, particularly that of the 

 lower part of the river and near its banks, is held in less esteem than 

 the Irrawadie or the Malabar timber; the depth and great richness 

 of its soil promoting its more rapid growth, and hence diminishing its 

 strength and elasticity ; our people have however in the last year 

 overcome some difficulties in the Memlunghe river, which have opened 

 a mine of wealth to the provinces in the splendid teak of that river 

 and the upper Salween, if the Siamese government throw no ob- 

 stacles in the way. 



December 21st. — The elephants arrived to-day at noon, having been 

 detained half a day by one of them following a herd of wild ones in 

 the night ; we have been employed apportioning their loads, and pre- 

 paring for an early start to-morrow. The tigers are said to be exces- 

 sively bold in this part of the forest. 



December 22nd. — Goonghe-let-tet, 5h. 50m., sixteen miles. Started 

 at 7h. 40m a. m. leaving the banks of the Zimee, and travelling along a 

 well trodden path used by the timber cutters, reach the Kareen village, 

 Nat Kyeaung, of ten houses, at 8h. 35m., where we were detained 

 an hour in endeavouring to procure guides, all the Kareens declaring 

 they knew nothing of the country a mile south-east of their own village- 

 I had unfortunately no one with me who spoke their language, and 

 though they all spoke Talines, and many of them Birman, they are 

 only to be properly managed in their own language ; and it is not to 

 be wondered at, for they have never had any communication with 

 their neighbours for ages, except to be oppressed or cheated. We at last 

 prevailed on three of them to accompany us, who brought us safely to 

 this halting place, protesting to the last that they knew nothing of 

 the road. At lOh. 15m. cross a small nameless stream, llh. 15m. 

 Goongalay, another stream. 12h. 5m. cross the small stream of 



