412 Itinerary in the district of Amherst, Tenasserim. [No. 5. 



then* traffic to the Shans. I was much disappointed in not seeing 

 this singular place, where the stream is split into numerous channels 

 by small islets, but the Karens, whether from design or stupidity it 

 is hard to say, brought me past it, and it was now too late to retrace 

 my steps two days up the river. Journey to-day ten miles, N. N. "W. 



February 22nd. — Took Meridian Observation, Latitude 16° V 1" 

 N. ; Longitude 98° 23' E. ; Ther. 90°. 



At 40m. p. m. we got on board the fleet, and went merrily down 

 the pure waters of the Houngthrau. Our boats are mere canoes 

 calculated to pass over the shallows and scours of the stream, and 

 propelled by two paddles forward and one astern to steer, the 

 motion of paddling is smooth and pleasant, and with an awning of 

 leaves and mats overhead, we glided down the stream in great luxury 

 at a rate of six to eight miles an hour. On approaching rocks, 

 narrows, or rapids the bow paddle man stood up, and with a light 

 bamboo in his hand fended us cleverly off the rocks as the current 

 swept us swiftly past them. Now and then as the reach of the 

 river turned to the East, magnificent mountains met the view. At 

 others, the eye swept up long vistas of graceful trees bending over 

 the stream, or perpendicular banks and rocks thirty to forty feet 

 high, past which the glassy waves rushed hurriedly, or spreading 

 into pools, eddied gently along, so pellucid that the pebbles at five 

 or six feet depth were distinctly visible. In fact a more delightful 

 way of travelling than this cannot be devised. We reached the 

 mouth of the Kyik, a hill stream running in from the Eastward at 

 J past 4 p. M. and encamped on the banks for the night. The weather 

 looked threatening again, so had the roof of our wigwam double 

 matted and sloped down as much as possible and made all as snug 

 as we could against a bad night. 



February 23rd. — Towards morning the rain commenced, and in 

 spite of all precautions the roof began to leak pitilessly, and we had 

 to turn out, roll up bedding, and stow every thing away into the 

 smallest compass. It had been our intention to start for Mooley-it 

 — a celebrated peak about thirty miles to the North East — to-day, 

 and endeavour by forced marches to reach it in two days : bub the 

 rain forbad all hope of travelling on elephants through the jungle, 

 and as Mr. Parish's leave had nearly expired, he could not afford 



