STATE OF TUB COUNTRY KATIIA. 



101 



houses, but these are not of the better description. To the west is a 

 fine chain of hills, the lowest ranges of which are distant about 

 one mile and a half ; the highest peaks are perhaps 1500 feet. No signs 

 of alarm or disturbances are here visible, although part of the force 

 that invested Kioukgit came from this village. We here learn the 

 agreeable news that the country below is quiet, and that no robbers 

 now infested the road. The Thogee is a fine looking young man ; 

 very polite. This village boasts of some pretty pagodas, well 

 grouped, and a very fine Kiown, the workmanship of which astonished 

 me, particularly the carving ; it is built of teak, the posts being very 

 stout, and very numerous. Several merchant boats left before us, 

 apparently anxious for our escort. 



Behind the town is a large plain used for the cultivation of paddy. 

 Otherwise the jungle comes close to the houses, although the larger 

 trees have been felled for firewood, etc. : the woods are dry, and toler- 

 ably open. In the morning I went out towards the hills ; the chief 

 timber trees are a fine Dipterocarpus, and a Hopea ; Pentapetes like- 

 wise occurs ; Terminalia Chebula. Gathered a fine Arum, somewhat 

 like A. campanulatum. An arboreous Gardenia, as at Mergui ; Myr- 

 tacea, Vitex, Bauhinia of yesterday ; Randia, Andropogon aciculare ; 

 some stunted bamboos were likewise observed. Altogether Katha is 

 the prettiest place I have yet seen. The river opposite it is confined 

 to one bed, about 500 yards broad. 



May 9th. — Left at 7 a.m., and reached the mouth of the Shwe 

 Lee at 1 p.m. ; the distance according to B. being sixteen miles. 

 Passed a few villages, but none of any size ; the houses of all con- 

 tinue of the same description. The river presents the same features. 

 Salix continues. Sandbanks occupied by annual Compositae occur, 

 two Polygona, Campanula, a Ranunculus, much like that of Sud- 

 diya, a Labiata, Paronychia, two Spermacoces ; Bombax occurs just 

 below Katha ; Salix and Rosa continue. Shwe Lee is a considerable 

 river, at the mouth between 4 and 500 yards broad ; but one-third 

 of this is unoccupied by water, and the stream is not deep, although 

 of the ordinary strength. Above, it narrows considerably. 



7^ p.m. Temperature of the air 76°. Of Irrawaddi 74°. 



May 9th. — Tsa-gaiya. This is a mean village on the left bank, 

 about eighteen miles from Katha ; it is close to a low range of hills, 

 and occupies part of a plain, which is adapted for paddy cultivation. 

 Near the village to the North, is a small jeel, covered to a great 



