138 



REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT 



Tributaries of the Irrawaddi between Mogoung river and Ava. 



The number of tributaries even to Rangoon is unprecedently small : 

 this tends to increase the astonishment with which one regards this 

 magnificent river. 



The rivers that fall into the Irrawaddi within the above distance are, 



1st. The Mogoung river. 



2nd. Tapien Khioung, above Bamo. 



3rd. Shewe Lee Khioung. 



These are about the same size, and only discharge a consider- 

 able quantity of water during the rainy season. The Shewe Lee 

 at its mouth, is between 5 and 600 yards wide, but only an incon- 

 siderable portion of this is occupied by water, and this to no depth. 



The great branch from which the Irrawaddi derives its vast sup- 

 ply of water still remains to be discovered, and will probably be found 

 to be the Shoomaee Kha. It is evident, at any rate, that the great 

 body of water comes from the eastward, for between the Mogoung 

 river and Borkhamtee, in which country Captain Wilcox visited the 

 Irrawaddi,, and where it was found to be of no great size, no con- 

 siderable branch finds its way from the Westward : neither are the 

 hills which intervene between these points, of such height as to 

 afford large supplies of water. 



On the whole it is, I think, probable, that the Irrawaddi is an 

 outlet for some great river, which drains an extensive tract of coun- 

 try ; for it appears to me that if all its waters are poured in by moun- 

 tain streams, a tract of country extensive beyond all analogy, will be 

 required for the supply of such a vast body of water. 



In addition to the above three rivers, few nullahs exist, but these 

 are scarcely worthy of consideration. 



Nature of the country. — From the mouth of the Mogoung river 

 nearly to Tsenboo the country is flat, and the banks wooded or 

 covered w r ith grass to the brink. The range of hills which form the 

 upper Kioukdweng there commence, and continue for a distance of 

 16 or 20 miles, during the whole of which they from the banks of 

 the river. These hills are scantily covered with trees, most of 

 which are in addition stunted. The vegetation within the maximum 

 high water mark consists of a few scraggy shrubs. The rocks com- 

 posing these hills are principally serpentine, which within the influ- 

 ence of the water is of a dark sombre brown colour. Limestone* 

 occurs occasionally. 



