140 



REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT 



rather a high bank of yellow clay, along which it extends for rather 

 more than a mile, its extreme breadth being perhaps 350 yards. It 

 is surrounded by a timber stockade, the outer palisades being well 

 pangoed ; the defences had just undergone repair owing to an ex- 

 pected attack from the Kukkeens. It contains within the stockade 

 rather less than 600 houses, (the precise number was ascertained per- 

 sonally by Mr. Bayfield,) and including the suburbs, which consist of 

 two small villages, at the northern end, one at the southern, and one 

 occupied by Assamese at the eastern, it contains about 750 houses. 

 These are generally of the usual poor and mean description ; indeed, 

 not even excepting the Governor's house, there is not a good Burman 

 or Shan house in the place. One street which occupies a portion of 

 the river bank, is inhabited by Chinese, and contains about 100 

 houses ; these are built of unburnt brick, and have a peculiar blueish 

 appearance ; none are of any size. The best building in Bamo is 

 the Chinese place of worship. Those occupied by the Burmese have 

 the usual form. The country adjoining Bamo is flat, dry, and I 

 should think unproductive ; it is intersected by low swampy ravines, 

 one or two of which extend into the town. To the south there is an 

 extensive marsh, partially used for rice- cultivation. 



The population of Bamo including the suburbs, may be estimated 

 at about 4500, of whom 4 or 500 are Chinese. The governor is a 

 bigoted Burman, of disagreeable manners ; he expends much money in 

 the erection of Pagodas, while he leaves the streets, roads and bridges 

 by which the ravines are passed, in a ruinous and disgraceful state. 



The Bazaar of Bamo is generally well supplied : British piece 

 goods and woollen cloths are procurable, but at a high price : the show 

 of Chinese manufactures is much better, particularly on the arrival 

 of a caravan ; considerable quantities of Tea are likewise brought in 

 the shape of flat cakes, of the size of a dessert plate, and about two 

 inches thick. This tea is of the black sort, and although very in- 

 ferior to the Chinese case teas, is a far better article than that of 

 Pollong. In addition to this, warm jackets lined with fur, straw 

 hats, silk robes, skull-caps, and sugar-candy are procurable ; pork of 

 course is plentiful, and is excessively fat ; grain, vegetables and fish 

 are plentiful. On the whole Bamo is a busy and rather flourishing 

 place : it derives its consequence entirely from its being a great em- 

 porium of trade with the Chinese, who come here annually in large 

 numbers ; for the accommodation of these people and their caravans, 

 two or three squares, fenced in with bamboos, are allotted. 



