1849.] The Pine tree of the Tenasserim Provinces. 73 



traders on the pretence that the moon is not sufficiently old for their 

 periodical migration, his own agents are allowed egress with Bootia 

 cloths, which they dispose of before the market becomes swamped. 

 Of "giris" or permanent householders, I was informed there are not 

 now more than twenty about Dewangari, great numbers having deserted 

 and settled in the Dooars. And as those who remain are subjected in 

 consequence of the desertions to more than their former share of annoy- 

 ance, they too are likely ere long to desert. I saw at Soobunkottah 

 upwards of 60 Boots and Bootnis who had there settled ; at Gooroo- 

 gong, there are as many more ; and they are settling in other places 

 besides these two. They have not as yet taken up any land ; and told 

 me they had no intention of doing so, as they find they can push a 

 very comfortable livelihood by trading. I told them I should tax 

 them whether they cultivated or not. They were quite willing they 

 said to pay whatever I imposed. 



It was 2 p. m. before I got clear of the Dewangari village ; we had 

 the use of the rajah's ponies a part of the way ; I believe he ordered 

 that they should go with us the whole way, but his people made some 

 demur and I sent them back, as I could get on just as fast on foot. We 

 returned by the same road, and some of us got to the foot of the hills 

 shortly after sunset, and I got back to camp at 7 p. m. Some of the 

 party were not up till 9 p.m. It was a hard day's work. 



The Pine tree of the Tenasserim Provinces, By the Rev. F. Mason. 



Some twenty years ago the residents of Moulmain were not a little 

 surprised to find, among the drift wood of the Salwen, a log of some 

 coniferous tree. This was the first intimation that any tree of the Pine 

 tribe grew on the borders of these Provinces ; but whether it were of 

 the genus Pinus, or Abies, or Larix ; a pine, a fir, or a larch, did not 

 appear. It was several years after this occurrence, that one of our 

 former commissioners told the writer he had offered a hundred rupees 

 to any of the foresters who would bring down a spar of this tree. Spars 

 have been, subsequently, brought down, but it is believed that Capt. 

 Latter, the Superintendent of Forests in these provinces, is the first Euro- 



