BAMOO. 



95 



Below the maximum high-water mark the vegetation is all stunted, 

 at least that of the rocks ; a tufted Graminea is the most common. 

 Adelia nereifolia (Roxb.), a Celastrinea, a curious Rubiacea, which 

 I also have from Moulmain, two Myrtaceae, a Rungia, are the most 

 common. I did not observe Podocarpus. In the occasionally sandy 

 spots Campanula, the usual Composite, Panica three. Eleusine, 

 Clenopodium, and Atriplex are common, a Stemodia, and Asclepiadea 

 likewise occur. One Clematis carpellis imberbibus, and the Lonicera 

 are met with. No mosses appear to occur. One remarkable tree, Belhoe 

 of Assam, 70 feet high, cortice albido, foliis orbato, panculis (fructus) 

 pendulis, occurs : it has the appearance of an Amentaceous tree. 



April 27th. — We a have remained at Bamoo ; nothing appears to 

 have been settled below, and the river is reported to be unsafe. It 

 has fallen at least three feet since our arrival. Bayfield measured the 

 left channel yesterday; it is nearly 750 yards wide. 



Bamoo is situated on the left bank, along which its principal 

 street runs. The town is a very narrow one, the breadth averaging 

 about 200 yards ; its extent is considerable, but it scarcely contains 

 600 houses, and of these 105 are Chinese, and only has one good 

 street, i. e. as to length. Neither are the houses at all good or large, 

 , so that the population cannot be established at more than 3000. I 

 allude only to those within the stockade ; out of this, and close to 

 Bamoo are two or three small villages. The stockade is of timber, 

 pangaed, or fenced outside for about 30 yards ; it has just been com- 

 pletely repaired, as an attack is expected from the Khukeens. 



The Chinamen live all together, in a street of low houses built of 

 unbaked bricks ; these are not comparable to the houses at Moulmain. 

 There is but little trade now going on. Within the stockade and 

 without, low swampy ravines occur, that cannot be but injurious 

 to the healthiness of the town. The Myoowoon spends all his money 

 in pagodas, none of which are worth seeing : all the roads and 

 bridges he leaves to take care of themselves. 



The inferior caked tea, sugarcandy, silk dresses, straw hats, and 

 caps are procurable, but at a high price. Pork is plentiful, and the 

 bazar is well supplied with fish. It is a much more busy place than 

 Mogoung, as well as considerably larger. The chief export trade 

 with the Chinese is cotton; the revenue however by no means 

 equals that of the Mogoung district. 



The country around is nearly flat ; on one side of the stockade there 

 is an extensive marsh well adapted for paddy. Otherwise the ground 



