396 



Captain Ihmnay's Route 



[Oct. 



is still seen to convince one that such a place did formerly exist. 

 The fort has evidently heen parallel with the river, and is on the left 

 bank which is high and composed of sandstone. About half a mile 

 inland, the remains of the inner walls run north and south, with an 

 opening or gap to the east, in which there is an appearance of a con- 

 siderable ditch, which I was told is filled with water in the height 

 of the rains. The whole has more the appearance of an old brick 

 fort, than any thing I have seen in Burmah, and I should say it had 

 been built by a people different from the present race of Bnrmans." 



About a mile to the south of Tagoung are the extensive ruins of 

 Pagan, which stretch as far as the eye can reach, and here Captain 

 Ii anna v discovered impressions of Hindu Buddhist images, stamped 

 upon a peculiar kind of brick composition (terra cotta), and with in- 

 scriptions which he imagined to be written in some variety of the 

 Deva-nagri character. The Burmese on the spot were unable to 

 explain their nature or origin, and the learning of an aged priest 

 proved equally incompetent to the task of deciphering them : — they 

 were subsequently, however, submitted to some Burman antiquarians 

 at the capital, by the Resident, whose paper on the subject and a 

 drawing of the images appeared in the 51st No. of the Journal of the 

 Asiatic Society. 



At Shicezi-goung, a large pagoda among the ruins of Tagoung, 

 Captain Hannay obtained an extensive view of the subjacent coun- 

 try, and more accurate information of the site of the celebrated mines 

 q{ Momeit than had been practicable at an earlier period of his voy- 

 age. From these accounts it appears that the locality which is said 

 to produce the finest rubies in the kingdom, is about forty-five or 

 fifty miles east of Tagoung Myu, from whence it can be reached by a 

 foot traveller in three or four days, and by a laden bullock in ten. 

 A drove of these animals was just about to leave Tagoung for Momeit 

 on Captain Hannay's arrival, and from the owners he learnt " that 

 after selling their ngapee (potted fish) at Momeit, Mogout and Kyat- 

 pen. they proceeded to the country of the Palongs, which bounds 

 the district of Momeit on the east, and purchase tea, both pickled 

 and formed into balls, a part of w 7 hich is brought to Ava." The fish, 

 w hich apparently forms the staple of the trade, is said to be of a 

 remarkably fine description, and is dried in a manner peculiar to 

 Tagoung. 



On the left bank of the river, between Henga-myo and Tagoung, 

 the teak tree first begins to appear, and at Kyundoung on the opposite 

 side, it is said, that timber is found sufficiently large to form a boat 



