1859.] Itinerary in the district of Amherst, Tenasserim. 441 



Noon Observation, Lynkama. Lat. 15° 50' 42" N. ; Longitude 98° 

 26' E. ; Thermometer 88°. Kun to-day fourteen miles ; courseN.N. W. 



February 'list. — Started at 7 A. M. in a thick fog travelling 

 through thinly wooded tracts of grass jungle. Came across three 

 of those singular birds Corydon Sumatranus. They are as stupid 

 nearly as boobies or noddies. One that I shot at and missed, 

 remained quietly till I loaded again and killed, the other two 

 sitting looking on. We passed some dried up ponds or pools thickly 

 marked with the foot prints of Gaur and Sainbur. The Karens 

 say the Growers resort to these plains in great numbers in October, 

 at the close of the rains. As we neared the Houngthrau, the 

 ground rose and afforded us glimpses of the magnificent hills to the 

 Eastward, Napulloo, Dweepameekwyn and Mogadook, but we soon 

 plunged into thickets of tropical density, and pressed our way 

 through them till we stood on the banks of the Houngthrau, 

 a beautiful crystal stream, here about fifty yards wide, and running 

 with considerable force. It was so deep that the elephants were 

 all but floated off in crossing, and I ordered a raft to be made for 

 the Chronometer, which on ordinary occasions is carried suspended 

 to a pole. A steep high bank on the other side brought us into a 

 forest of high trees, and further on a large but much neglected 

 orchard, filled with plantains, jacks, mangoes, and oranges (the 

 last eatable only by a Karen). Passing through this we came 

 to the village of Meetan, quite a city after the deserts we had 

 passed through ! Our encamping-place was on the right bank of 

 the Houngthrau, and we had the satisfaction of seeing our fleet 

 ready for us, the rest of our journey being by water. "We had 

 the pleasure here of getting our letters, papers, fresh supplies, &c, 

 not having heard from Moulmein since the 2nd ; and the grand luxury 

 of fresh eggs and milk. 



Meetan contains about fifty houses of Karens and a considerable 

 deal of cultivation. It is the highest point generally which trading 

 boats from Moulmein reach. They bring up dried fish and such 

 condiments as the Karens use, also cloth, beads, crockery, glasses, 

 &c, which they barter for hill rice, tobacco, cotton, wax, &c. Smaller 

 boats can ascend a couple of days' journey further, to a place called 

 Kozey Ko Gewn (the ninety-nine islands) where they extend 



