1837.] Journal of an Expedition to the Chinese Frontier. 1001 



there safe, and inquired particularly about my proceedings at Kiang 

 Tdng, and was satisfied by the reports made. The Chou Raja Wun 

 was not pleased, and when I saw him said he was very much afraid 

 the Chou Houa might be displeased at my going- to Kiang Tung, and 

 all the blame would fall on him. Some merchants who had come up 

 from Maulamyaing for the purpose of joining me had been there some 

 time. I endeavoured to obtain permission for them to proceed by Kiang 

 Tang, but the Chou Raja Wun would not hear of it, but said they 

 were at liberty to go by the eastern road, which had been conceded 

 to us, that every assistance would be afforded them, and passes 

 given. He begged me to remain until the Chou Houa's arrival. 



On the 22nd I held a long conference with the Tsaubua on various 

 points. It ended in positive prohibition to the merchants passing 

 through Zimmay to Kiang Tung. The Shan officer who accompanied 

 me was even put in irons, and was only released through my inter- 

 cession with the Chou Houa, who entered the town on the 6th May. 



The king of Siam had forbidden all communication between the two 

 states on any account, that they never could eradicate the hatred they 

 had for the Burmans, and the Kiang Tung people though not Burmans 

 were subjects of Ava, and therefore could not for a moment be 

 trusted. But there was no objection whatever to our merchants 

 going by the road on the eastern bank of the Me Khong or Cambodia 

 river, but they would not permit any of the Shans from Kiang Tung 

 or any place in any way subject to Ava entering their territories. 



I could not leave the place until the evening of the 1 1th in conse- 

 quence of a little discussion about a woman ; a native of India had 

 taken from this place and was attempting to extort money from her, 

 and threatening to sell her, and to obtain satisfaction for a case of 

 theft that had occurred many days before, and though some of the 

 parties were secured, they were screened by the Chou Houa's officers, 

 and the investigation put off in a most disgraceful way. The first 

 the Chou Houa settled by allowing me to bring the woman away 

 with me, and as I could wait no longer, he promised to have the 

 matter inquired into before some of my people whom I left behind ; 

 and the officers, who had not been more attentive, punished. 



In spite of the disagreeable discussion I had had with the chief of 

 Zumue we parted all good friends, with mutual assurances of wishing 

 to continue on good terms with each other. 



Having left the elephants behind I returned here by a different 

 road to the one travelled in going, and which though rather longer is 

 much better in every respect than the other. 



