TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
239 
allow of its being conveyed; and that it is also 
carried, to a considerable extent, by land-carriage. 
It is universally consumed in Pegu, from Bassein 
to Martaban, and throughout the whole of Upper 
Ava, embracing the greatest portion of the area of 
the kingdom, and unquestionably all the best in¬ 
habited part of it. 
Upon a consideration of the imperfect state¬ 
ments now offered, I am disposed not to rate the 
population of the Burman empire higher that four 
millions, or about twenty-two inhabitants to the 
square mile ; an estimate which best accords with 
the rude and imperfect state of government and 
society, which so strikingly characterises the 
country. 
This is, indeed, a miserable population for a 
great country, possessing a good climate, a fertile 
soil, navigable rivers, and convenient harbours. 
The great check to population is bad government, 
in the form of wars, insurrections, anarchy, ill-ad¬ 
ministered laws, and oppressive taxation. Famines 
do not appear to have been frequent, and such as 
have occurred are rather to be ascribed to civil 
and political causes than to the soil or climate. 
Epidemic disorders are neither very frequent nor 
fatal. The small-pox, and of late years cholera, 
are probably the only maladies which materially 
check the increase of population. The plague, 
the scourge of Eastern Europe, and Western 
Asia, is unknown; and malignant and fatal fevers 
