72 Dr Hamilton on a Map qf the Tar out Shan Territory. 
dispersed in small and rude communities governed by hereditary 
chiefs, who carry on an almost perpetual war with each other f 
but when I was at Ava (1795), the government was said to be 
vested in one chief, who, although tributary to the Mranma 
sovereign, and honoured by him with only the title of Zabua, 
seemed to enjoy considerable power, as bis attendance at the 
Court of Ava to do homage was not insisted on, as was done 
with the Zabuas of Upper and Lower Laos; and it was ac- 
knowledged, that, like the Princes of Ava, sons of the monarch, 
he was entitled to have the gilded umbrella. From the accom- 
panying map also it would appear, that including the capital, 
his dominions contained twelve cities (Main), each the seat of a 
governor, and its territory is stated to extend from three to 
twelve days’ journey in different directions from the capital. Its 
smallest extent from thence was towards the north and east, be- 
tween N. W. and S. E., in which directions the most remote 
places are not more than five days journey from the capital. 
Towards the south and west, some places are ten, eleven and 
twelve journeys distant from the same. 
It is evident, that the places ip the map are not laid down by 
any scale suited to their respective distances ; for Banmue, ele- 
ven days’ journey from the capital, stands no farther from thence 
than Main Zin, a town distapt only five days’ journey. On the 
whole, it is evident, that the capital should have been placed 
farther towards the N. E. making the territory extend less than 
it apparently does towards China and Tunquin, and farther to- 
wards Upper a-nd Lower Laos, In fact I consider, that by far 
the greater part of this territory occupies the space on Mr Ar- 
rowsmith’s map of Asia on die banks of the Lesien Kiap, a 
great part of which is there represented as within the boundary 
of China, but as desert and without towns. There is in this 
part, even within the boundary of China, besides a large part in 
Tunquin, an empty space east from the Maekhaun River of 
about 150 German miles from N. W. to S. E., and of about 
100 miles from N. E. to S. W., and in this space I consider 
that the greater part of the Tarout Shan territory is placed, 
which will account for the term Chinese (Tarout) being applied 
to it, as a large portion is within the boundary which the Chi- 
nese choose to affix to their empire. This entirely agrees with 
