1830.] 
87 
to A eng, in Aracan. 
Government and exertions of individuals, an easy access was gained into the con- 
quered provinces, which used annually to be frequented by nearly 40000 people. 
The discovery of this important route, which we accomplished in 12 days, 
(distance 150 miles, 5 furlongs,) over a range of mountains hitherto totally unknown 
to Europeans, will tend to obviate, in the event of a future war, the many difficulties 
which have presented themselves on the invasion of the Burmese territories to the 
southward, the total distance to the capital of Burmah from Aeng being only 
about 270 miles, of which only 50 miles of road may be deemed bad, and even 
that might soon be surmounted and rendered passable for an army and light field 
artillery. Besides this advantage, in time of peace it may lay open a commercial 
intercourse between the two nations, highly beneficent to the interests of both. 
Before the commencement of the present war the commerce between Aracan 
and Burmah was very considerable ; the former importing piece goods, silks, 
muslins, and broad cloth, and other European and Indian manufactures, besides 
salt, ug& pi, and beetle, their home produce. The Burmese in return exported 
ivory, silver, copper, palm sugar, tobacco, and oil, the produce of their upper pro- 
vinces, together with wax and lackered boxes of all sizes, the manufacture 
of Pegu. 
The original history of the Kyanns, the present undisputed possessors of 
these mountains, is so lost in fiction as to be little worthy of belief; and even those 
parts which are known to the present race, are nothing but vague traditionary 
legends. They relate however, that informer times the rich plains of Burmah 
and Pegu were peopled by their ancestors, who were governed by a race of kings, 
when an irruption of the Tartars from the north overthrew their dynasty. The 
conquerors, seizing the Kyann chiefs who disputed their authority, put themto death ; 
using this argument, that it Avas incompatible with nature that two kings could reign 
over two separate races of people, inhabiting peaceably the same country. Thus 
compelled to seek independence amidst the lofty mountains of Aracan, Oliinah, and 
Siam, and naturally dreading all intercourse with their former invaders, a succes- 
sion of years beheld them mere children of nature, and all trace of their former 
kings lost in oblivion. Left without any leader or chief, the interest of social in- 
tercourse pointed out the necessity of having some one to whom they could look 
up, and the elder of each tribe was generally chosen as the arbitrator between 
them in all disputes, which are settled according to established custom, they hav- 
ing no code of laws. A soothsayer named Pasin, who inhabited a mountain 
called Pujau, at the source of the Main river, seems to have been looked upon by 
all as their director in sacrifices, marriages, &c. &c. and all things that they 
thought required any supernatural agency. His descendants, both male and female, 
to any distant degree of relationship, have fulfilled the duties of his office ever 
since. They deliver their mandates by word of mouth, the use of letters being per- 
fectly unknown : their chief office is in performing sacrifices for the healing of the 
sick, and assisting at the burial or burning of the dead. 
The Kyanns acknowledge no Supreme Being ; nor have they the most distant 
idea of the creation. They worship a tree named by them Subri , which produces a 
blackberry of which they are fond. They suppose a peculiar substance is sent from 
above for their worship, which is searched after and adored with superstitious awe. 
As soon as a thunder storm has ceased, and nature becomes calm, they repair in a 
body to the spot, where, from the destruction of any tree, the substance iis sup- 
posed to have fallen, and commence digging for it with great care: on being 
found, a hog and cow are immediately sacrificed and eaten, when it is given to the 
Pasin, who uses it as a talisman in the cure of the sick, they possessing the most 
sovereign contempt for all kinds of medicine. Their ideas of right and wrong are 
confined to their relative care of their flocks and families. The good man is he who 
takes care of his father and mother, looks after his hogs and cattle, eats the most 
meat, and enjoys himself in drinking a liquor distilled from grain : — the bad man is 
the abstemious, as he is thought an unworthy wretch for not enjoying to the ut- 
most of his power the blessings nature has bestowed. Of this latter class there are 
very few. Of future rewards and punishments they appear to have some vague idea 
— good would attend the good, they said, and evil the bad, but where and by whom 
inflicted they know nothing. 
Their only belief of any future state is confined to transmigration, and even 
that very indefinite, as they have no scruple in killing any animal either for food 
or sacrifice. 
Veh^ntdng, a hill from the summit of which the whole world is supposed to 
he seen, is looked upon with peculiar sanctity. To this place the bodies of their 
