92 



FROM HOOKHOOM TO AV A . 



tures in this direction; so that I fully agree with Hannay's state- 

 ment, that 500 rupees worth of British goods would be unabsorbed 

 for some years. Rosa is common, also a Rumex ; a Sisymbroid plant 

 also occurs. Among the trees, all which are stunted, Gmelina arborea 

 occurs. There are some Assamese slaves here among the people, 

 one of them is said to be a relation of Chundra Kant, the Suddiya 

 chief : slaves are held in very small estimation with the Burmese. 

 Thus Bayfield asked his writer, who such a one standing near him 

 w; s, whether a Shan or Singpho ? The man answered, " My lord, it 

 is not a man ; it is a Waidalee." 



Altogether, Mogoung is an uninteresting place ; the surrounding 

 plains are barren- looking, and inhospitable, and clothed with grass. 

 Here and there a ragged Nauclea, Careya, etc. is visible with Gme- 

 lina arborea. The under shrubs are chiefly a Rhamnoidea, and a 

 Phyllanthus. Rosa is common ; Rumex and Nasturtium are both met 

 with. 



News arrived yesterday evening to the effect, that the King is 

 drowned, the heir- apparent in the palace : and that Colonel Burney is 

 with Thurrawadi ! ! ! 



My collections up to this place amount to 900 species. 



April \9ih. — Left at 12, and halted after having gone about four 

 miles. The river continues the same as above ; it is a good deal 

 impeded by trees, and much more so by sandbanks. 



April 20th. — Reached Tapaw in the afternoon ; our progress is, 

 however, very slow the stream being slight, but the river is much 

 improved ; being less spread out, owing to its greater proximity to 

 the low hills : often very deep, generally clothed with jungle to the 

 water's edge. On the hills near Tapaw are some Khukeens of the 

 Thampraw tribe, and on these hills bitter tea is reported to be found. 

 This the Khukeens bring down for sale. 



April 21s*. — Continued our course, performing about twelve miles 

 between 7 and 5, inclusive of one hour's halt. At some distance 

 from Tapaw and thence throughout the day, here and there occur 

 rapids, which are much worse, from the stream being impeded by large 

 rocks. In some places it is divided, in others, compressed between 

 hills, and here it is very deep. 



April 23rd. — Arrived at the Irrawaddi. The Mogoung river is 

 very uninteresting ; the stream being generally slow, sandbanks very 

 abundant, as well as stumps of sunken trees. At its mouth it is deep, 

 and about seventy yards across. The banks are either overgrown 



