BATHERS, — IRRAWADDI AT BAMOO. 



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strsemia parviflora, Elodea, Nauclea ; Leguminosae 3, Gelonia, Com- 

 bretum, Jasminum occur. In the marshes Ammannia rotundifolia, 

 Cyrilla, Azolla, Marsilea, and Salvinia, Serpicula, Ceratophyllum ; a 

 Campanula arenosa reaches thus far. 



Every day indecent sights occur in the river, owing to the women 

 bathing without clothes, and either with or near the mem They 

 appear to be indifferent to the concealment of their person, breasts, 

 and hoc genus omne, being freely exposed. They swim very well, 

 and in a curious way. They make their escape by squatting down 

 in the water, unfolding their cloth, and springing up behind it. As 

 for the men, they appear to take a pride in exposing every part of 

 their bodies. No gazers-on occur among these people, such not be- 

 ing the fashion. 



The Shan Tarooks who trade with this place use oxen in addition 

 to other beasts of burden ; the breed appears good, resembling the 

 smaller kind of India. 



The Irrawaddi here is between the extreme banks a little less 

 than \\ miles broad ; the channel on which Bamo is situated is the 

 largest, and is 800 yards across. Two other channels exist, of which 

 the west is the smallest, and carries off least water. The river is a 

 good deal subdivided by sandbanks, but is, compared with the Bur- 

 rumpooter a confined river. Since our arrival here it has sunk se- 

 veral (say five or six) feet, and no longer looks the noble river it did 

 on our arrival. 



The sandbanks when they do exist are either naked, or clothed 

 with partial and not gigantic grassy vegetation. I have not seen 

 any thing comparable to the churs of the B. pooter in this respect. 

 The temperature of the river is not particularly low, and is much 

 higher now than during the rise. From Bamoo the opening of the 

 Kioukdweng is not conspicuous, nobody unacquainted with the 

 course of the river would imagine that it passes through the range 

 of hills to the N. and NNE. The highest hills visible are to the east. 

 They are within a day's journey, and are clothed to their summits. 

 Some appear 3000 feet high. 



Low hills inhabited by wild Khukeens, are visible nearly all 

 around, except perhaps due west. The wild fierce nature of these 

 people is attended with a great extent of mischief, quite unchecked, 

 without eliciting even precautionary measures on the part of the 

 Burmese Government. 



There are a few angles in the Bamoo stockade, and these exist 



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