1837.] 



from Ava to the Frontier of Assam. 



397 



from a single tree; it grows principally on the western face of the 

 hills, at whose eastern base Kyundoung stands. A delay of two days 

 at this village enabled Captain Hanxay to ascend to the summit of 

 the first range of hills, by the road which leads across them to the 

 valley of the Mu river : he found it a well-beaten track and great 

 thoroughfare, by which the inhabitants of the country as far west as 

 Wantha Myu, are accustomed to convey their supplies of fish, salt 

 and oil from Kyundoung, a place apparently of some trade : the bazar 

 contained 50 shops which were large and supplied with British piece 

 goods, uncleaned cotton, silk, and cotton Burman dresses, coarse 

 white cloth and other articles of country manufacture. " Besides 

 these," adds Captain Hannay, " I saw three Chinese shops, where 

 spirits and pork were sold. The streets were crowded with people 

 from the interior, who had come to make purchases, and amongst 

 them were several Kadus, a race of people of a different origin from 

 the Burmahs, and scattered over the tract of country between this 

 and Mogaung. They are most numerous in the districts of Manli 

 and Manhat situated on the Meza river* which comes from the north 

 and west, and runs between the Kyundoung range and that called 

 the Thegyain range, still seven or eight miles north of our present 

 position. Rice, being the staple of the country, is an article of barter, 

 and is sent in considerable quantities to Ava. Cotton, brought from 

 the interior, is also an article of barter, and a good deal of it is sent 

 to Bamo, bu t apart of it is made into cloth on the spot, as I saw 

 several looms at work. Yellow and red cotton handkerchiefs of 

 British manufacture sell here for two ticals a piece, which is about 

 100 per cent, beyond the price at Ava." 



To this point of their progress, no diminution in the volume of the 

 Irawadi was perceptible, and the channels proved sufficiently deep 

 for the passage of large boats, from which we may infer (hat all the 

 principal feeders or affluents, which pour their tributary streams into 

 the Irawadi were still further north, and had not vet been reached. 

 The first of any importance noticed is, the S/iue li kkyoung on the 

 left bank, the northern branch of which flows from the Chinese fron- 

 tier town of Santa-fu, called by the Burmahs Mola San/a, and a 

 southern branch from Momeit, the site of the celebrated ruby mines 

 already noticed: the confluence of these streams is represented as 

 occurring at the village of Laha about 40 miles from the I raw ad 



* A small stream not more than fifty y;n ds broad, with but little water. 



