232 Dr Francis Hamilton’s Account of a Map 
boats can ascend the whole way, yet at low water the stream is 
shallow, and vessels of any burthen must anchor at the mouth 
of the river. From Martaban this anchorage is about four or 
five days’ sail for boats coasting, as I have already mentioned, 
that is, sailing about ten hours a day. The distance, according 
to Arrowsmith, is about sixty-four marine leagues, or sixteen 
leagues a-day ; for much time is lost in going in and out of 
creeks for shelter, and in going round shoals, rocks and head- 
lands, with which the coast abounds From the anchorage to 
the city of Tavay, boats go up with one tide ; the distance, 
therefore, is probably less than Mr Arrowsmith has adopted. 
Another tide carries boats up to Kalinaun, which, therefore, is 
not probably more than forty or fifty miles from the mouth of 
the river. When Tavay belonged to Siam, it was built of brick, 
and was a large place : but now it is reduced to buildings of 
wood and bamboo, those of brick, by the law of Ava, being 
reserved for God and the King, or for such favourites as may 
obtain special licence, and this is seldom indeed granted. 
Dawse stands on the east side of the river, between which and 
the sea is a very narrow ridge of land ; for it is only three 
hours journey by land from Dawse to Moyeip, a village oppo- 
site to which there is a good anchorage, sheltered by islands, 
rocks, and sands. On the ridge between Tavay and Moyeip, 
and not far from the road, is said to be a volcano ; nor is this 
improbable, as the island of Narcondam, at about seventy 
leagues distance, has been long in a very active state of igni- 
tion. 
A considerable quantity of tin is procured from the territory 
of Dawse. The mines are on a large hill on the great central 
ridge, and called Sakana, It is four days’ journey by land, south 
and cast from the city of Dawse. The tin found there is rec- 
koned very fine, and is coined into a money current in that vici- 
nity. It is to be observed, that tin-mines are also situated in 
Junk Ceylon, as it is called in our charts, to the south, and 
near Taunu to the north ; and there is reason to think, that, 
throughout at least the whole of this length, the ridge of hills 
passing on the east side of Dawse is continued, which would 
perhaps imply a continuity of mineral productions, extending 
from Lat. 7° 30' to Lat. 19° N., or about 800 miles. 
