ON THE ROUTE FROM ASSAM TO AVA. 



141 



The principal article of Burmese export is cotton, and this I believe 

 is produced for the most part lower down the Irrawaddi. 



The climate of Bamo is in April dry and sultry : the range of the 

 thermometer being from 66° or 68° to 94° or 96°. North-westers are 

 of common occurrence in this month, and are frequently of extreme 

 severity. I saw very little cultivation about Bamo, some of the ravines 

 alluded to had lately been under rice- culture ; the chief part of the 

 cultivation for vegetables, &c. is confined to the sandy islands, which 

 occur here and there. 



Of the numerous villages passed between Bamo and Ava not 

 one deserves especial notice, nor is there one, with the exception 

 of Umeerapoora, the former capital, which contains 500 houses. 

 Shewegyoo, which formerly occupied a considerable extent of the 

 left bank near the south opening of the second Kioukdweng had been 

 burnt by the orders of the Monein Myoowoon, on account of their 

 having supplied troops to the emissaries of the Tharawaddi. Kiouk- 

 gyee, the residence of the above governor, had a short time before 

 our arrival been invested by a force in the interest of the Tharawaddi, 

 but had been repulsed. The governor was to proceed with the 

 whole population, amounting to several hundred souls, to Bamo, to 

 join his forces with those of the Bamo governor. This part of the 

 country was most unsettled and almost deserted. On reaching 

 Catha the state of the country was more tranquil, all the people 

 below this point having espoused the cause of the Tharawaddi. Katha 

 contains 200 houses, and has a rather respectable bazaar ; it is well 

 situated, and has the most eligible site in my opinion, of all the towns 

 hitherto seen. The most remarkable object is a noble Kioung, or 

 Mosque, built by the head-man of the place ; this is one of the finest 

 now existing in Burma. 



The only other large place is Sheenmaga, about a day's journey 

 from Ava. This is said to contain 1,000 houses. An extensive fire 

 had lately occurred here. I counted 200 houses, and judging from 

 the extent of the ruins, I should say it might probably have num- 

 bered between 4 and 500. There are several villages contiguous 

 to this, and I think that the district immediately contiguous is more 

 populous than any part hitherto seen. 



During the above portion of the journey our halts were as follows : — 



1. Tapaw. 



2. Mogoung river. 



3. Mogoung river. 



