270 
DESCRIPTION OF THE CAPITAL OF RAMBREE. 
coping with the English fleet, and making him- 
selt master of Madras, and preserving the most 
inviolable faith and good conduct towards the 
English who surrendered, in opposition to the 
low and dishonorable intrigues of his fellow- 
countrymen, instigated, supported, and coun- 
tenanced by M. Dufleix, Governor of Pondi- 
cherry. It is to the singular abilities of this 
man that the Isle of France is indebted for 
most, if not all tlie works of a public nature 
she now possesses. The quay is perhaps 
unequalled for the advantages it affords to 
vessels. They lie there in perfect safety : 
they load and unload with the greatest facility, 
and they are supplied with water from a jet 
d’eau, which conveys it into their water casks 
without removing them from the boats. There 
are several docks in the vicinity, where ships 
can be repaired, but as these are private, we 
have no occasion to describe them, and 
satisfy ourselves by this allusion to them, in 
mentioning the harbour to which they ap- 
proximate in situation, and that they are fre- 
quently found of use to vessels that have suf- 
fered at sea.” 
(To he continued.) 
Art. VII. — Journal of a Tour through 
the island of Rambree, with a Geologi- 
cal Sketch of the Country, and Brief 
Account of the Customs, ^c., of its 
Inhabitants. By Lieut. Wm. Foley. 
With a map. — Journal of the Asiatic 
Society, 1835. 
(Continued from page 210.^ 
Lieut.Foley says that the Hughs have no 
idea of the distance intervening between one 
place and another : he believes the distance 
between Oogah and Singhunnethe to be as 
much as 16 miles; from that to Seppo-towng 
12 miles ; and as many more from thence to 
Rambree. Our traveller now proceeds to the 
capitalof the island. The Saaynekyong creek, 
after winding through the vale to the right, 
suddenly takes atonr into the interior, cross- 
ing the road within a very short distance of 
Seppo-towng. Patches of paddy ground, suc- 
ceeded by long mountainous ranges with the 
same abrupt ascent and inclination, were the 
never-failing features of the country passed 
over between Singhunnethe and Rambree. 
“ The soil on the hills was generally a red 
clay, containing nodules of chert, and fel- 
spar combined with talc. Had I possessed 
even a common acquaintance with botany, I 
might have derived much pleasure in the 
examination of the various vegetable tribes 
that surrounded me. Unfortunately I was 
a stranger to the greater number, recognizing 
only those of moat frequent occurrence, such 
as the Girjun, Tilsah, Jharral, wild Peepul, 
and a host of Mimosas. There were also some 
very pretty creepers, and a vine which corres- 
ponds in description with that given me of the 
black pepper-plant*. After the first two or 
three ranges had been overcome, we approach- 
ed the village of Leppang, the site of an 
old stockade, and scene of an encounter be- 
tween the Burmah chief Nemyo-sooyahf, and 
the Ramoo Rajah Keembrang, in which the 
latter was shamefully defeated. From hence 
it is but a short distance to Tseembeeyah and 
Kehsree, the latter prettily situated on the 
plain, hud surrounded with clumps of trees. 
Among the inhabitants of Kehsree are a class 
of people engaged in the oil manufacture, and 
who shall receive further notice hereafter. 
The oil is prepared chiefly from the Thel, and 
the mills are in evei’y respect similar to those 
used in Bengal. Beyond Kehsree is Koyan- 
downgX with the two guardian temples on its 
summit : and to the right of that, the “ Red 
oi Rambree, almost destitute of ver- 
dure, and answering in appearance to that 
predicated by its name. Tiger traps ^ of a 
novel construction were very numerous in the 
ghats leading to the town; Rambree has on 
several occasions been much infested with 
tigers ; they have been known to come into 
the town shortly after dark, and, entering the 
houses, carry off the inhabitants. Cattle 
and poultry are even now continually taken 
away, and it is considered very dangerous to 
sleep outside upon the michaun. To facili- 
tate the description of one of these traps, I 
have endeavoured to represent by a drawing 
the several parts of which it is constructed. 
A, is a long |1 pole possessing great strength 
and elasticity, which is bent and held down 
by B, a peg connected with C, a good thick 
cane rope. The peg B. is fixed with great 
care between the bars D, and E, ; the bar D, 
having been previously fastened to the two 
posts F, F, which are driven into the ground. 
That part of the platform marked G, is brought 
into contact with the bar E, and the peg B. 
H, is a noose laid upon the platform, and I, a 
heavy wooden cylinder so nicely attached to 
* The black pepper-plant is found on the hill 
in the Sandoway district. 
+ Afterwards Meyo-woon at Eambree. 
X Called “ St. George’s Hitt” by the troops 
quartered at Rambree during the war. The 
temples were built by the Burmah Meyo-Avoon 
Yeh-jutta-gong. 
^ Already noticed in vol. Vnd (1833,) Journal 
Asiatic Society . 
|j A large branch of a tree sometimes serves 
as well. 
