136 On the commercial importance of Bhanmo. [Feb. 



which perhaps any European would be less successful. On this pro- 

 bability that we need only go as far as Silhet, and that the Chinese will 

 come there, so that Silhet would become the market place for the trade, 

 rests the likelihood of success in any attempt to open a direct commerce 

 between China and India, and every Calcutta merchant will enter more 

 freely in this speculation, if he considers that the depot for his goods 

 will be on British territory, and at a place to which he can transport 

 the same securely by water and at little cost. What articles of trade 

 would be the best suited for this commerce, and what profit could be 

 realized, only experience and a better examination of the produces and 

 requirements of these countries can show. Most likely that Opium and 

 English woollen cloths would be in good demand in the interior of China, 

 and that Tea, Raw Silk, but especially the minerals, as Silver, Gold, 

 Auripigment, Copper, &c, of which Yun-nan is said to be very rich, will 

 turn out as profitable purchases on our side. 



But it is not to be expected that this commerce could be established 

 at once, and that all the resources of the countries east of Bengal, and 

 of interior China would flow at once into our channel of trade to be dis- 

 charged at Silhet ; on the contrary, we wish only to draw the attention of 

 the Calcutta merchants and those connected with this place, upon these 

 countries, to convince them, in showing how great a field for profitable 

 enterprize still remains unexplored, that they deserve to be better ex- 

 amined, and that the advantages which they offer to commerce justify 

 a first attempt to open the same. And this so much the more, as it 

 could be done under a trifling expense, simply in this way, that (at 

 least) two travellers, who are acquainted with the character of the na- 

 tives and with the Burmese language, be sent to Bhanmo either by 

 way of Rangoon and Ava up the Irawady, or by our route over Silhet 

 and Munipur, for the following purposes : — 



1 . Of ascertaining the mercantile relations of the countries around 

 Bhanmo. 



2. Of entering the Chinese province of Yun-nan to examine its geo- 

 logical formations and mineral wealth. 



3. Of entering into negociations with the Chinese merchants at 

 Bhanmo and to induce them to come over to Silhet. 



There are no extraordinary difficulties in the attainment of these ob- 

 jects. The most difficult part would be to enter Fun-nan, which iti case 



