404 



Captain Hannay 9 s Route 



[Oct. 



with the numerous arrivals from different parts of the country, gives 

 the place a very business-like appearance, and there is of course a good 

 bazar." There is a very neat temple built by the Chinese of Bamo, 

 which Captain Hannay visited, and was most politely received by the 

 officiating priest. " On entering his house," says Captain Hannay, 

 " he rose to meet me, saluted me in the English fashion, asked me to sit 

 down, and ordered his people to bring me tea ; after which he sent a 

 person with me to shew me the curiosities of the temple. Most of the 

 figures were carved on wood, and different from what I have generally 

 seen in Chinese temples ; one of them represented the Nursinga of the 

 Hindus. The Chinese of Bamo, although different from the maritime 

 Chinese, in language and features, have still the same idea of neatness 

 and comfort, and their manners and mode of living appear to be much 

 the same." 



" Their temple and all the houses, which are not temporary, are 

 substantially built of bricks stained blue ; the streets are paved with 

 the same material, and the grounds of the temple are surrounded by 

 a neat brick wall covered with tiles." " Besides the trade carried on 

 at Bamo by the Chinese, the Shans, Palongs, and Singphos under 

 China, are great purchasers of salt, gnapee, dried fish, and rice, but 

 particularly salt, which is in constant demand ; and to procure it, num- 

 bers of the above named people come to Bamo, Sambaungya and 

 Kountoung. The salt which sells here for twenty ticals of silver for 

 100 vis, or 28 rupees for 150 seers, is brought principally from Shein- 

 maga above Ava, and from Manbu, which is situated two marches 

 westofA~«^m. The Shans here are distinguished by their fair com- 

 plexions and broad good-tempered faces. They wear turbans and 

 trowsers of light blue cotton cloth ; they greatly resemble the 

 Chinese, and from living so near that nation, many of them speak the 

 Tunan- Chinese language. They inhabit the country to the east of 

 Bamo, and their principal towns are Hatha, Latha, Santa, Sanla t 

 Moongsye, Moong-woon, Moong-man, Moong-la, and Moong-tye. The 

 people are generally designated Shan Taroup or Chinese Shans." 



" Although the Palongs speak the Shan, their own native lan- 

 guage is a distinct one. The men, though small in stature, are athle- 

 tic and remarkably well made. Flat noses and grey eyes are very 

 comraen amongst them. They wear their hair tied in a knot on the 

 right side of the head, and dress in a turban, jacket, and trowsers, of 

 dark blue cloth. They are a hill people, and live in the tract of coun- 

 try situated between Burmah and China, but those to the east of Bamo 

 pay no revenue to either country, and are governed by their own 



