166 GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS AND EXPLORATIONS. 



which form Appendix B. to Gr. T. S. Report for 1876-77 (see Survey 

 Proceedings for April 1878) contain some interesting details as to 

 the geography of N.E. Assam, and a, Note (Appendix B.) on the old 

 Burmese route over the Patkoi and by way of Nongyong, viewed as 

 the most feasible and direct route from India to China. The deputa- 

 tion undoubtedly helped to concentrate attention on this important 

 region, and some useful explorations were subsequently made (see 

 Topographical Survey chapter, p. 79). 



The military events in Upper Burma leading to the deposition 

 of King Theebaw and the annexation of the country to the British 

 Crown, necessitated the employment of surveyors, and in the 

 spring of 1886 Captain Hobday left the Andaman islands,* which 

 he had been engaged in surveying, for Mandalay. The latitude 

 and longitude and altitude of that city were determined, and a 

 preliminary map cf the surrounding country was compiled from 

 the reconnaissances of officers with the Burma Field Force. In 

 May Captain Hobday and Sub-Surveyor Ahmad Sayad accompanied 

 a military expedition into the Kachin hills, south-east of Bhamo, 

 and in the following month one to the south-east of Mandalay. 

 While carrying' on his work at a place eight miles east of Kyonkse, 

 Ahmad Sayad was attacked by Shan dacoits and killed. The 

 despatch of a telegraph party to lay a line from Mandalay to 

 Bhamo gave opportunity for the extension of the triangulation and 

 topography northwards up the Irawadi. The survey of the city 

 of Mandalay on the 6-inch scale, covering altogether an area of 

 50 miles, was completed as well as a sketch map of the new can- 

 tonment site at Bhamo. 



In the later part of 1886 the survey detachment in Upper Burma 

 was strengthened and enlarged, and several reconnaissances were 

 made in connexion with the various military movements undertaken 

 for the pacification of the country. In November Captain Hobday 

 and a sub-surveyor accompanied a column from Mandalay to 

 Thonze via Pym-ul-win and returned by the same route. In 

 January Captain Hobday joined another expedition from Mandalay 

 to the Shan State of Mainlon. via Lamaing and Kalagwe, and then 



* A good account of the Little Andamans (which Professor Flower has described 

 as one of the most isolated spots in the civilised world) was given by Mr. M. Portman, 

 before the Royal Geographical Society on the 30th January 1 888. See Proceedings 

 Royal Geographical Society, p. 567. The Great Andamans are better known, and an 

 admirable article on the two groups, from the pen of the late Sir Henry Yule, will be 

 found in the Encyclopedia Britannica. 



