AVA. 



107 



of Capparis, and the following plants, Barleria, Prionitis, Tamarindus, 

 -#£gle, Zizyphus, Cocos; Borassus, Bixa, Cordia, Punica, Ricinus, Me- 

 lia Azederak ; Citrus Cassia, near houses and on the hills ; Euphorbia 

 2, Ximenia, Cleome, Boerhaevia, Adhatode, Cassia sennoidea, Sidae, 

 Andropogon, a lax Linaria common on old pagodas ; Calanchoe, 

 Sedum, Pommereulla, Vinca rosea, Tectona Hamiltoniana, but not of 

 such size as at Male. Bambusa stunted and rare, Blepharacanthus, 

 Polygala, Labiatae 2, ^Eruae, sp. Fici one or two, an Alstonia, Celosia 

 mollugo, Solani sp. Stemodia, Combretum, Heliotropium indicum, 

 and the Euphorbiacea of Mengwong. It will at once be seen that 

 the vegetation has some, similarity with that of the Carnatic, for in 

 addition I found Asplenium radiatum, and Lemonea Monophylla, a 

 Carissa, Ximenia, Flacourtia, etc. etc. 



Ava is a fine town, surrounded with an excellent brick wall : the 

 streets are wide, and kept clean ; the houses are regular, and as trees 

 are interspersed, a pleasing effect is produced. The appearance is 

 much improved by a lattice before each house. The houses also 

 are of a superior description, a few only are of brick. The fort is 

 surrounded by an additional wall, and a broad but shallow ditch. 

 The palace is a handsome, irregular, gilt edifice ; but its precincts are 

 not kept so clean as they might be. The Shwottoo is a handsome 

 hall. The town altogether conveys an idea of importance. The 

 river is about 800 yards broad opposite the Residency ; but above, it 

 is encroached on by a sandbank. Boats are numerous, and opposite 

 Tsegain there is a busy ferry, especially now the king is at Tsegain. 

 This is a much preferable place, and rendered much more pleasing 

 by its superb Tamarind trees, with their most elegant foliage and 

 sculptured trunks. The plants cultivated about Ava are Palmyra, 

 Cocoa (rare). Tamarinds abound ; Carica Papaya, Punica Granatum ; 

 Mangoes, which are of good description ; Cordia, Plantains, JEgle 

 Marmelos. 



The country is flat, and destitute of trees to the south and south- 

 west. The whole of this is cultivated during the rains, chiefly for 

 Gram, Tobacco, Capsicum, and a Melitotus. At present the plains 

 are barren, the low places being almost exclusively occupied by a 

 Combretum ; the rest give a new Polygonum, Lippia, 2 or 3 Compo- 

 sitae, and a curious dwarf grass. On the walls Linaria is common. 

 Noticed near one of the gates, Cryptostegia grandiflora ; the waste 

 places and banks are occupied by Argemone, Mollugineae three, 

 Xanthium, Dentella, and low annual Compositae. 



