466 JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
Hitherto, with the exception of the caravan of 
Shans, we had seen few travellers; but in pass¬ 
ing through this forest we met with several. 
The ground soon began to rise in a gentle ac¬ 
clivity, and we shortly reached the foot of the 
hills. In the low land, detached rocks were seen 
here and there, composed of compact limestone. 
The ascent of the mountains occupied exactly 
five hours. The road was winding, but far 
from steep or difficult: for the greater part of it 
1 rode my pony. No section of the rock was 
any where to be seen ; but we frequently passed 
over masses of it, forming the road. About 
half-way up we passed the village of Ziben, 
near to which there was cultivated a little rice 
and some millet. A little beyond it I found the 
species of oak which my assistant had brought to 
me. Along with it was seen the teak, although 
not very frequent; so that here probably, for the 
first time, by an European at least, was seen 
growing naturally, side by side, the two greatest 
glories of the forests of Europe and Asia. I did 
not, in all, see above forty teak trees, and they 
were evidently not at home, for their stems 
were irregular, not exceeding ten feet high to 
the crown, nor above ten or twelve inches in 
diameter. The trees were in fruit; and under 
the old ones were to be seen numerous seed- 
