TO THE COURT OF AYA. 157 
can be raised by mortgage upon a P£ of land 
varies, according to its quality, from twenty to 
sixty ticals of flowered silver, or in sterling mo¬ 
ney from 2l. 1 5s. to 8/. 5s. All these lands are 
close upon the river-side. Notwithstanding the 
comparatively high prices now quoted, a consi¬ 
derable extent of unreclaimed land lies close at 
hand, and not two miles from the walls of the 
city. This is generally lower than the cultivated 
land, rather marshy, and covered with brush¬ 
wood, consisting chiefly of a species of combre- 
tum , with narrow leaves. If too moist for culti¬ 
vation, as is no doubt the case, a very trifling 
capital would suffice to drain it; as there is a 
lake close at hand, and the river not half a mile 
distant. The peasants informed us that there was 
enough of land without it, and that the weeds 
and bushes grew up too rank and fast to allow of 
its being cultivated with advantage. They stated* 
that any one might clear and cultivate it, enjoy¬ 
ing the profits; but that they were liable to 
be dispossessed when the proprietors presented 
themselves ; from which we inferred, that all the 
lands in the vicinity of the capital were appro¬ 
priated. The lands which we examined are the 
estate of the Sito-myan-wun, or the Master of 
the King’s Stud. Five villages are appropriat¬ 
ed to this personage, containing between them 
