STATE OF THE COUNTRY — INHABITANTS. 



91 



all circumstances, and failing authentic intelligence of Mr. Kincaid, 

 resolves on remaining here. 



Mogam is a rather pretty town, situated on the right bank of the 

 Mogoung river, at the confluence of a river 100 yards broad, the 

 water of which spreads out, in some places, to a considerable 

 breadth and depth. The country is however low, flooded in the rains, 

 and surrounded by hills, except in the direction of Shewe Down 

 Gyee. In many places it is only covered with grass. The town is 

 large, and was formerly stockaded, the remains of the timber stockade 

 being still visible. It contains about 300 houses, about 2,500 inha- 

 bitants, mostly Shans. The houses are generally raised, in many 

 cases like those of the Kampties, the chopper coming low down, 

 shaped like a turtle's back. There is a very distinct opening or 

 chasm in the hills between S. D. Gyee and a low range to the North, 

 but no river makes its exit there. Sunday, 16th. 



April ISth. — Halted up to this date, waiting for information espe- 

 cially regarding the army at Tsenbo. 



In this place two fragrant Dipterocarpeee are found ; as also Bixa, 

 Tamarindus, and Carthamus, which last is cultivated and used both 

 for food and dyeing. About the Poongie houses some remarkable 

 Fici occur, the trunk being divided so low down as to give the idea 

 of a group of several trees. The roots in addition are made to spread 

 over the conical mounds, thrown up at their bases. 



A race of wild-looking short men, called Lupai Khakoos, inha- 

 bit this vicinity, wearing a jacket, and dark- blue cloth with an 

 ornamented border, worn with the ends overlapping in front. They 

 wear garters of the Suwa. Their hair is worn either long or crop- 

 ped, and a beard is also occasionally worn by the elders. 



In this place very few regular Chinese are to be found, and the 

 few that are here seen, are ultra-provincials ; none are acquainted 

 with the manufacture of tea. This article is procurable here, but 

 at a high rate ; it is sold in flat cakes of some diameter ; it is black, 

 coarse, with scarcely any smell, and in taste not much superior to 

 the Assamese article; 20 tickals weight sells for All the blue 

 cloths of the Shans are dyed, Bayfield informs me, with Ruellia, or 

 jungle indigo. 



It is with these people that the only trade seems to be carried 

 on, and this is limited to amber and serpentine. They are very 

 dirty, and excessively penurious, but industrious. Owing to their 

 habits and extreme penury, there is no outlet for our manufac- 



