1000 Journal of an Expedition to the Chinese Frontier. [Dec. 



them much cheaper than it can be purchased here. Their exports 

 consist principally of tea, which with a little cotton is a staple of this 

 territory. It grows on both sides of the Me Khong in large quantities, 

 but like the samples I have brought down, with some seed, of a coarse 

 description, but whether from their mode of preparing it, or naturally 

 so, I cannot tell. 



Their state extends on both banks of the Me Khong : it is bounded on 

 the N. and N. E. by the Yunan province ; to the E. by Cochin China ; to 

 the S. E. by the Lauchang territory, and to the south on the eastern 

 bank of the Mekhong by both Muang Luang Phaban and Muang Nan ; 

 to the southward on the western bank of the river by Kiung Khiaing 

 (a small state ruled by a Tsaubua tributary to Ava) and Kiang Tung ; 

 to the westward by Kiang Tfing ; to the north-west by Muang lun, 

 which last stands in the same relation to China and Ava as it does. 



I quitted Kiang Hting, on the 26th of March and reached Kiang Tung 

 on the 31st. Here I saw the order from Mone not to permit me to 

 proceed until further orders, but if I insisted in going on, they were 

 not to prevent me but merely to take a list of the followers, &c. 

 with me. During my stay I frequently saw the Tsaubua who as before 

 urged me to use every endeavour in my power to obtain a free passage 

 through Zumue for all merchants, which could easily be done by Bri- 

 tish influence. He assured me it was far from his thoughts to attempt 

 to rescue his relations from captivity, though strong enough to do so, 

 but he knew the attempt would lead to bloodshed and be the means of 

 their being removed to Bankok. He complained of the Siamese after 

 so many years of quiet, which he entirely attributed to us, again 

 making aggressions into the territories of the Burmese, alluding to the 

 affair at Mak mai / that he had hoped we should not have permitted 

 any thing of the sort, that he had lately re-established many of his 

 deserted towns towards Zumue, but he much feared they would not be 

 allowed to remain, unless we interfered. That they considered them- 

 selves prevented by the treaty of Yandabu making aggressions into the 

 Siamese territories, and we ought to put a stop to their being molested 

 and robbed by the Siamese. He urged me to repeat my visit and to 

 beg of you to send some person up to cure him of his blindness if 

 possible. 



I quitted Kiang Tung on the 4th of April, and reached Zumue on 

 the 18th, having left the elephants to come on by short marches, the 

 country was completely burnt up and no forage to be found. 



The Shan officer who had accompanied me had returned from 

 Kiang Tdng, the Tsaubua told him he was glad to hear I had arrived 



