TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
4 63 
of betel pepper. These last consisted of latticed 
enclosures, covered in with mats. There were 
no trees within, but the vines were trailed on 
the latticed walls, which were at least double 
the height of any which I had ever seen before. 
The leaves were piquant, juicy, and high fla¬ 
voured. The road was generally good, but our 
progress was delayed by the small number of 
our carriers, and we were obliged to hire two 
carts. A shower of rain forced us to take shelter 
under a shed on the road-side. Here we saw 
an old lady riding on an elephant, one of the 
Royal Family, recognized as such by her gilded 
umbrella: she was followed by a numerous train 
of females. At half-past five in the evening we 
halted at the village Shwe-zf, putting up at a 
Zayat, or caravan sera : close to this place was 
a large group of ancient temples, resembling 
in form those of Fugan. The country around 
was scarcely less bleak and sterile than in the 
neighbourhood of that place. I found here, 
however, the first new plant, a beautiful single 
anceolate-leaved crotolaria, cultivated for hemp. 
Our course, in to-day’s journey, was north-east; 
and when we halted, the hills were not above 
three miles distant. These are the first of 
several ranges visible from Ava. 
“ We left our ground at eight o’clock in the 
