TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
9 
of from twenty to sixty feet high, without any 
underwood. Of these trees, the most common 
and striking were the Acacia data , the Lager- 
stroemia regince , a species of JButea , and a spe¬ 
cies of Dillenia. This last was the tree which 
our countrymen had frequently observed dur¬ 
ing the war, and, on account of some resem¬ 
blance in the size and shape of the leaf, de¬ 
nominated bastard teak. 
The appearance of inhabitants and cultiva¬ 
tion was extremely scanty. Here and there, 
on the immediate banks, were a few villages 
of Talain fishermen. The Karian (Karen) vil¬ 
lages, somewhat more frequent, were to be 
seen now and then in the interior only, with 
a few patches of rice culture about them. The 
only culture of any extent was that of the 
banana, of which we saw extensive groves close 
to the river-side. The fruit was of a very 
indifferent quality, and the plant very care¬ 
lessly grown—being intermixed with the tall 
grass already mentioned to such a degree, that 
we at first imagined that it was in a state of 
nature. There can be no question but the soil 
is fertile and suited to the production of grain, 
especially beyond the reach of the tides. The 
situation also possesses great advantages for 
irrigation. The banks on both sides are ob- 
