76 Dr Hamilton’s Account of a Map 
triangle or delta will thus be of this extent, while its apex, a 
li f tle above Hsensada, may be considered as not quite 130 G. 
miles from the sea. It is true, that near the mouths of the 
Zittaun and Salusen, and near alsoyhe creeks communicating be- 
tween these and the Erawadi, there is some alluvial muddy soil, 
and I saw some between Sanlisen and the ancient capital of 
Pago or Pegu ; but the extent, I imagine, is inconsiderable, as 
Pago has near it eminences containing stone, and hills come 
close to the sea at Mouttama, (Martaban,) on the mouth of the 
Saluaen. Although, therefore, the Erawadi equals at least the 
Ganges, and although the Saluaen is a large river, not indeed 
to be compared with the Brahmaputra, the alluvial territory of 
Pegu is by no means to be compared in extent with Bengal, 
because the latter, besides the two great rivers at the extremities, 
receives the Gagra, Gandaki, Kosi, and Tista, all of great mag- 
nitude, while only the extreme rivers of Pegu spring from alpine 
snows. The anastomosing branches of the Pegu rivers, beyond 
the reach of the tide, are chiefly swelled by the periodical rains, 
and many of them, for a great portion of the year, are nearly 
dry ; but for a time they are of much use, both as fertilizing 
the country and for commerce, as during floods they admit of 
extensive navigation. They also contribute much to the health 
of the climate, by carrying off superfluous water, and prevent- 
ing it from corrupting the air ; so that Kangoun, surrounded 
by inosculating rivers, enjoys a salubrious air, very unlike Cal- 
cutta, Dakha, or the intermediate places, which are still more 
unhealthy. 
In the accompanying Map, as well as in the General Map of 
the slave, (See this Journal, Vol. II. Plate X.,) the branches of 
the river west from the main channel of the Erawadi, the chief of 
which is called Anaukkiaun, have been entirely omitted, as being 
placed in a remote and obscure corner ; but the inosculating bran- 
ches between the Erawadi, called, near its mouth, Alaegiaun, 
and the Saluaen, have, in the accompanying map, been detailed 
with great care, and their existence is confirmed by another map 
of the Pegu country, drawn by the slave, although in the gene- 
ral map he omitted them, as of comparative little importance, 
preserving only the Paunlaun or Zittaun river, which rises from 
