156 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [May, 



what be believed to be the Irrawadi, and described it as an insignificant 

 stream. Dr. A', sinformant, however, described the eastern branch as 

 a large river, running between high banks, and the western as a 

 smaller one. Dr. A. was inclined to believe that what Wilcox saw was 

 merely this branch, and not the main stream which most probably 

 rises far to the north of Capt. Wilcox's position. 



While at Momein Dr. A. also made particular enquiries regarding 

 the size of the Salween, the course of which was indicated by the lofty 

 Saychan range of hills, about 15 to 20 miles from Momein. The in- 

 formation was to the effect that the river was a very small stream. 

 The Camboja, however, was described as a broad and deep river 

 between high and precipitous banks, and the Pekin highway is said 

 to cut it by a chain suspension bridge. The Salveen thus not stretch- 

 ing so far to the north, as is usually represented on our maps, it is 

 possible that the large streams, heard of by Mr. Cooper, may have 

 been the eastern branches of the Irrawadi. Mr. Cooper's opinion on 

 this subject, Dr. A. thought, would be very valuable. 



Col. Th.'s proposition was favorably responded to by the meeting. 



Mr. Cameron made a few observations regarding the people of 

 Eastern Assam : he believed that travelling in those districts is 

 most dangerous, especially in the country of the Mishmi tribes. 



Mr. Cooper said that he had no direct observation, or reliable in- 

 formation, as to the upper course and the sources of the Irrawadi, but 

 he himself was of opinion, that its sources lie much further to north, than 

 they are usually indicated on our maps. On a small route map, which 

 he (Mr. Cooper) had lately prepared, he marked the course of the 

 Irrawadi much above the latitude of the Patkoi range towards the 

 North, coming from Eastern Tibet. 



Mr. Cooper thanked the meeting for the kind reception and encour- 

 agement which he had received, and said that he is ready and pre- 

 pared to meet any difficulties, and undergo any hardships to do 

 justice to the task, which he had undertaken. 



Col. Thuillier considered the discovery of the sources of the Irrawadi 

 and Brahmaputra as one of the greatest geographical problems of 

 the present time, but thought that Mr. Cooper's object was not exactly 

 the discovery of the sources of rivers, but simply the opening of a 

 direct route from India to Western China. He (Col. Th.) also si 

 for the information of the meeting that the pandits, trained by the 



