102 
JOUllNx\L OF AN EMBASSY 
dominions. Numerous villages were observed, 
and in some places the rice culture extended as 
far as the eye could see. This advantage it 
seems to owe to the Salen river, which is 
dammed by the inhabitants for the purpose 
of irrigation, and fertilizes the country in its 
whole course. It is probable, that wherever 
such streams exist in other parts of the country, 
population and agricultural industry will be 
found to prevail; but I do not imagine they 
are numerous, judging from the small number 
we have observed falling into the Irawadi. The 
banks of this river itself, before it commences 
its disemboguement, are generally too steep and 
hilly to allow of the neighbouring country be¬ 
ing cheaply irrigated from it; and this circum¬ 
stance, independent of the insecurity of pro¬ 
perty, will go a great way towards accounting 
for the general absence of agricultural industry 
which we had hitherto observed. Even the 
boasted culture and population of Salen, which* 
not only from the statement of the English 
officers, but from its being the estate of the 
favourite, we may presume to be one of the 
finest in the kingdom, will bear no comparison 
with some of the choice districts of Bengal. In 
the printed account, it is stated to contain six 
hundred square miles, and to have a population 
