ON THE ROUTE FROM ASSAM TO AVA. 



129 



the workmen denied having found any of value during the last six 

 years ! It is an article in great request among the Chinese and 

 Singphos ; at the pits, however, it is not high priced, and a first rate 

 pair of ear-rings are procurable at Meinkhoong for 5 tickals ; in 

 Assam 10 rupees are occasionally given. Meinkhoong is annually 

 visited by parties of Shan-Chinese, for the purpose of procuring'this 

 mineral; the caravan at the time I passed this village had returned, 

 and I believe was met by Mr. Bayfield. There was a small party of 

 Lupai Singphos from the East of the Irrawaddi, consisting of a 

 Tsonba and six or seven followers still waiting for a supply. 



The spot occupied by pits is considerable, but three-fourths of 

 these are no longer worked. Compared with the Serpentine mines, 

 they are but of small value. 



Both Coal and Salt exist in the valley ; the only indication of the 

 existence of the former I saw, was a mass of lignite in the bed of a 

 nullah between Tsilone and Meinkhoong. 



Vegetable products. — Fine timber trees,* which belong to the same 

 genus as the Saul, occur between Nhempean and Namtusseek, and 

 elsewhere towards the foot of the hills surrounding the valley. 



The Mulberry of Upper Assam occurs likewise, and the leaves sup- 

 ply with food a species of silkworm. From the silk a coarse species 

 of cloth is manufactured, but the use of this appears to be very 

 limited. 



Tea appears to be of uncommon occurrence. The only specimens 

 I saw were given me by Mr. Bayfield, they were procured from low 

 hills some distance from Shellingket. On this subject Mr. Bayfield 

 made very frequent and minute enquiries, and the result appears to 

 be that the plant is of rare occurrence ; none exists towards or about 

 the amber mines. 



The Room of Upper Assam (Ruellia Indigofera Mihi) is in use for 

 dyeing cloths, but not so much so as in Assam. 



The cultivated plants are of the ordinary kind ; and the produce is 

 just sufficient to meet the wants of the inhabitants. Owing to the 

 presence of the Myoowoon's force, rice was scarce during my visit ; 

 the price was seven tickals a basket, each of which contains about 

 30 days' supply for one man. 



The domestic animals are of the ordinary description : fowls 

 forming the only poultry. But on this subject it is unnecessary to 

 enlarge, as the habits and manners of the people are precisely the 

 same as those of the Assamese Singphos. 



* The Toung-bein of the Burmese. 



s 



