GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS AND EXPLORATIONS. 169 



accompanied the southernmost column, extended the triangulation 

 down the Irawadi to Thayetmyo, in the vicinity of which he 

 effected a junction with the principal series of the Great Trigono- 

 metrical Survey. 



Another column operated in the country above Mogaung, and 

 visited the Jade mines north-west of Sakaw as well as the Great 

 Endawgyi lake seen by Mr. Strettell, Deputy Conservator of Forests 

 to the Government of India, on the occasion of his exploring trip in 

 1 873 -74. For fear of exciting the Kachins it was deemed advisable 

 not to ascend the hills. Triangulation was thus rendered impossible, 

 and opportunities of acquiring topography were lost. Some useful 

 miscellaneous surveys were executed by Mr. G. H. Powell, but while 

 in the vicinity of Konni, a new military post which had been formed 

 on the Shan plateau, about 30 miles west of the Inle lake, an un- 

 fortunate quarrel arose with villagers, and in the ensuing struggle 

 Mr. Powell and two Burmans were killed. Tliis young officer's 

 death was much regretted, for though he had been only a short 

 time in the Department he had shown much ability and promise. 



The general result of the year's operations was an area of 

 23,274 square miles triangulated and 20,780 mapped on the ^-inch 

 scale, an out-turn which bears witness to the great activity of the 

 Departmental officers in the difficult circumstances imposed by 

 the unsettled condition of the country. 



In addition to these reconnaissances a special survey was under- 

 taken of the Ruby Mines tract, and the entire area within which the 

 mines lie, amounting to 77 square miles (a far larger extent than 

 previously imagined), was mapped on the 6-inch and 2-inch scales. * 

 Large scale surveys of the town and suburbs of Mandalay for settle- 

 ment and other administrative purposes were also completed in 1888. 



The reconnaissance survey of Upper Burma by Major Hobday's 

 party proceeded steadily during the following year (1888-89). 

 Survey officers accompanied the various military expeditions which 

 were organised during the year, and proceeded to the Chin country, 

 to the Kareni and the Southern Shan States, to the Northern Shan 

 States, and to Mogaung and other parts of the Bhamo district, 

 against the Kachin tribes. Surveys of a more regular character 

 were also carried on in the Minbu, Myingyan, Sagain, and the Ruby 

 Mines districts. The year's out-turn amounted to 20,510 square 



*Mr. R. Gordon, C.B., read a paper on the Ruby Mines before the Royal 

 Geographical Society on the 27th February 1888. 



