1837.] 



from Ava to the Frontier of Assam. 



405 



Tsobuas. The Singpho traders I saw at Bamo were very different 

 from those under Burmah, and according to their proximity to either 

 Shans or Chinese, they assimilate to one or other in dress and lan- 

 guage." 



"The whole of these people," says Captain Hannay, " pay for every 

 thing they require in silver ; and were it not for the restrictions in 

 Burmah on the exportation of silver, I think an intelligent British mer- 

 chant would find it very profitable to settle at Bamo ; as, besides the 

 easy intercourse with China, it is surrounded by numerous and indus- 

 trious tribes, who would, no doubt, soon acquire a taste for British 

 manufactures, which are at present quite unknown to them." The re- 

 venue of the district is estimated by Captain Hannay at three lakhs of 

 rupees per annum ; and he adds, " If appearance of comfort may be 

 taken as a proof of its prosperity, the inhabitants of Bamo shew it in 

 their dress and houses. I have seen more gold and silver ornaments 

 worn here than in any town in BurmahP 



On leaving Bamo, the appearance of the country became much more 

 hilly, and great precautions were taken to guard against surprise by 

 the Kakhyens, who inhabited the different ranges in the vicinity of the 

 river. 



At Hakan the escort was reinforced by 150 soldiers from Bamo, and 

 a number of families who were proceeding up the river, joined the 

 fleet to enjoy the protection afforded by so large a convoy. The Shans 

 who composed the quota from Bamo were a remarkably fine set of men 

 from the banks of the Tapan Khyoung, and formed a striking contrast, 

 in dress and appearance, to the miserable escort which had accompani- 

 ed the party from Ava. 



At the village of Thaphan-beng they entered the third Kyouh-dwen 

 from which a very beautiful view is obtained of the fertile valley of 

 Bamo, bounded on the east by the Kakhyen hills, which are cultivated 

 to their summits. Serpentine and limestone were the principal rocks 

 found in this defile, as well as the preceding one ; and as the river was 

 here in some places not more than 80 yards broad, with a depth of 30 

 feet, and its rise is in the rains 50 feet above the present level, the rush 

 of waters must at that season be terrific. The natives, indeed, declar- 

 ed, that the roar at that time was so great, as to prevent them from 

 hearing each other speak, and that the defile could only then be tra- 

 versed on rafts : now, however, it coursed gently along with an almost 

 imperceptible motion. 



At Thabyebeng-yua they found a new race of people called Phwons, 

 who described themselves as having originally come from a country 



