1830.] 
Visit to the Siccim Mountains. 
89 
nubiles to his golden presence, had the desired effect of exciting horror and dis- 
gust ; and in their place girls of a tender age were demanded. The Kyanns sent 
young female children, who were immediately returned as too young, and ever since 
no further demand has been made. Still this practice remained in force until within 
these last few years, since when it is merely a matter of taste ; and it is a remark- 
able instance of the capricious nature of the latter, when we see even now, men tat- 
tooing the faces of their wives without being compelled, either by human law or man- 
date of religion. I have seen some girls about sixteen who had not yet arrived at the 
general age for this disfiguration, whose features were uncommonly fine : they were 
far superior to the Burmese women in figure and fairness of complexion. 
Their dress is a frock coat, with long sleeves of blue cotton cloth, which 
reach to the knee ; the breast is open as low down as the waist, and is lined with 
strings of cowries, or some varied coloured fringe; a small blue handkerchief binds 
the hair, and a basket is suspended from the back of their heads by a thong which 
reaches round the forehead: in this they carry their provisions or the wild cotton 
they gather amongst the mountains. The men wear a frock of the same colour, 
hut much shorter, reaching to the waist; their loins are girt in a white cloth, orna- 
mented at the borders by stripes of red ; their legs are entirely bare ; a pouch is 
suspended from the shoulder by a belt ornamented with cowries and pieces of 
silver and pebbles ; in this their valuables are kept, but it is, more properly speaking, 
a tobacco pouch ; they possessing more of the latter than the former. Both males 
and females are particularly partial to smoking: they all carry a long reed pipe, ge- 
nerally tipped with a piece of silver or coral. Their weapons of defence are spears, 
swords, and cross bows, from which they project arrows of reed or bamboo, the 
points ot which are hardened in the fire and dipped in vegetable poison, which sel- 
dom fails inflicting instant death. 
The Kyanns are nominally tributary to the Burmese, who however derive little 
benefit from their wild and untaught vassals, except from those who have been al- 
lowed to enter the plains and have there settled. I saw many who seemed very 
happy, and, to do the Burmese credit, were not at all oppressed. 
To speak generally of their character, from what I have heard from those who 
have been in the habits of daily intercourse with them for these last 20 years, I 
would say that their civilization would be of much importance to us, and could be 
accomplished without much difficulty. Conciliation is the only means. The Kyanns 
amongst themselves, pleased with their natural freedom, are rather a social race: 
they have, from the strongest of reasons, been taught to look on strangers as ene- 
mies. The Burmese, the only people they ever knew, they have only known as their 
oppressors. But now within the territories and under the protection of a Govern- 
ment famed for its liberality, temper, and mildness, and whose policy is grounded 
upon the principle of moderation, the Kyanns will find protection, and, gradually 
gaining confidence, may become useful subjects, and worthy of our consideration. 
HI - — Particulars of a Visit to the Siccim Hills, with sotne account of 
Darjiling, a place proposed as the site of a Sanatarium or station 
of Health . By Captain J. D. Herbert, D. S. G. 
Favorable accounts having reached Government, of the climate of the Siccim 
country, and of the advantages which would attend the establishment of a Sanata- 
rium or station of health at Darjiling, it was suggested to me, that my personal 
examination of the spot might lead to a more correct appreciation of these advan- 
tages ; and in particular that my knowledge of the western mountains might sug- 
gest some useful comparisons of the features or peculiarities of the new station with 
the old ones, so as to give a more perfect idea of them, and enable the public to 
determine how far the former might, under particular circumstances, be eligible as 
a residence for invalids. 
Mr. Grant of M&lda, who had first drawn attention to the subject, and wlio was 
enthusiastic in praise of the country and of the people, had determined on a se- 
cond visit, and it was proposed that I should accompany him ; a proposal I very 
gladly accepted, for besides the curiosity to see a people of whom I had heard 
such very interesting accounts, I had long wished to verify the identity of the geo- 
logical formations within the tract in question, and our mountains to the north- 
west. In particular, I wished to put to the test the truth of some views noticed in 
