_Notes made on descending the Irrawaddi from Ava to_
_Rangoon_.
_28th May_.--I left Ava and halted about two miles above Menboo.
_29th May_.--Continuing the journey, the country appears flat with
occasionally low hills as about Kioukloloing, no large villages occur;
the river is sub-divided by churs; no large grasses to be seen, and the
vegetation is arid. Bombax is the chief tree: Mudar and Zizyphus occur:
Guilandina, Crotolaria a large Acanthacea, and a Jasminioides shrub are
the most common plants: Borassus is abundant: Fici occur about villages.
The banks are generally sandy, not high.
Yandebo. This is a wretched village; barren plains bounded to the east
by barren rather elevated hills; base jungly. Observed the tree under
which the treaty was signed with the Burmese at the close of the late
war. It is an ordinary mango, near a pagoda on a plain with two large
fig trees. I counted to-day 28 boats sailing up between this and our
halting place of yesterday, mostly large praows. The banks present few
trees, are flat, barren, and from being occasionally overflowed, adapted
to paddy.
Halted at Meengian, which is a middling sized village on the left bank,
about a mile below Tarof myoo.
_30th May_.--I made an excursion into the country which is dry, barren,
and sandy, with a descent towards the banks of the river. Zizyphus,
Acacia, Euphorbia 20 feet high, Calotropis, Capparis 2, etc., occur all
the same as before, only one Ehretiacea appears to be new. Hares are
very common. Likewise red and painted Partridges, and Quail. Carthamus
and Tobacco are cultivated, specially the latter at Meengian. The most
common tree here, is Urticea procera? which has always a peculiar
appearance. The country towards Pukoko becomes prettier, the left bank
wooded, and the ground sloped very gradually up to Kionksouk, which is
barren, and 2,000 feet high at least, with the slopes covered with
jungle.
_31st May_.--Passed Pagam, a straggling town of some size, famous for
its numerous old pagodas of all sorts. The surface of the country is
raviny, and the vegetation continues precisely the same. Below Pagam,
the range of low hills becomes very barren: altogether the country is
very uninteresting.
The low range of hills on the right bank is nearly destitute of
vegetation. The hills present a curious appearance of ridges, sometimes
looking like walls. The country continues the same.
Halted opposite Yowa.
_June 1st_.--A low range of hillocks here occurs on the left bank, and
as in other places, consisting of sandstone with stunted and scanty
vegetation.
Tselow is a large place on the left bank, the river is here much spread
out, with large sand banks. The hills on the right bank present the same
features; passed Pukangnai, a large village on the left bank. Passed
Pukkoko, Pagam, Tselow, etc., the hills about this last place abound with
Prionites. Strong wind prevails.
_June 2nd_.--Yeanangeown 10 A.M. The country continues exactly similar
to that already observed--hillocks intersected by ravines, loose
sandstone, very barren in appearance. Vegetation is the same, but more
stunted; fossil wood is common, especially in the bottom of ravines.
{147} Of fossils very few were seen, but more are to be procured by
digging. The most common trees are Zizyphus, Acacia, and a Capparis: the
most common grass Aristida. Arrived at Yeanangeown, a busy place judging
from the number of boats.
Wind less strong. At 2 P.M. stopped at Wengma-thoat, where Zizyphus is
extremely common. Euphorbia seems rather disappearing.
The plants met with at the halting place six miles above Yeanang, were
Euphorbia, Olax, Zizyphus, Mimosa, Carissa, Ximenia, Prionites,
Calotropis, Gymnema, Capparis pandurata et altera species arborea,
Murraya rare, Gossypium frutex 6-8-petal, Xanthophyllum blue, petiolis
alatis of Tagoung, Sidae sp. On the right bank flat churs continue
covered with a small Saccharum. Vegetation more abundant and greener
than before. Ficus again occurs and Stravadium occasionally.
Passed 5 P.M. Memboo at a large village on right bank, containing perhaps
200 houses. The river below this runs between two ranges of low hills,
similar in every respect to those already passed. A Kukkeen woman was
observed, who appeared to have a blue face, looking perfectly frightful.
_June 3rd_.--Maguay. Reached this place at 8 P.M. It is on the left
bank. It is a place of some importance. Many boats lying in the stream.
The country, is of the same dry, arid description: the banks of the river
are however lower than previously observed.
Passed Esthaiya, a small village on the right bank, at 6 A.M. Adelia
nereifolia continues common in some places.
Dhebalar, Meemgoon, two villages nearly opposite, neither of these
villages large. Ficus and Bombax are common; no Euphorbia was observed.
We are now evidently getting within the influence of the Monsoon, as the
vegetation is more green.
Passed Mellun, a village on the right bank. The hills on either side of
the river are higher and better wooded than before observed, and the
river itself is not more than 350 yards broad.
Observed gold washers below Meegyoung-yea, where they find gold, silver,
and rubies by washing the sands. Here Bombax is very common on the right
bank.
Passed Thembounwa, a village on the left bank. The country presents the
same ridges of singular hills formed of veins of slaty, tabular, brown
rock, this is very conspicuous at Thembounwa. The hills on the left bank
above Meeaday are very barren; the banks rocky.
Halted at Khayoo, just above Meeaday, at 7 P.M.
_June 4th_.--Passed Teiyet myoo, a village on the right bank, which
seems to have some cotton trade; the houses along the bank are wretched
in appearance. Meeaday was passed during a squall, I was thus prevented
from making any observation on it. Teiyet is the largest place I have
seen. The country we are now passing is very slightly undulated, soil
light and sandy. Fine tamarind trees occur, also Terminalia. In
addition to the usual plants a Lagerstraemia occurs, which attains the
size of a middling tree, and a frutescent Hypericum, Aristolochia, and
Hedyotis occur. Strong south wind prevails so that we can make no
progress whatever, I therefore went into the jungle and found Stravadium,
a fine Bignonia foliis pinnatis, floribus maximis, fere spitham.
infundibulif. subbilabiat. lacinus crispatis: one or two Acanthaceae, two
Gramineae, two Vandelliae, Bonnaya, Herpestes, Monniera, Rumex, Dentella,
three or four Cyperaceae, Ammannia, Crotalaria on sand banks, Triga in
woods and Bauhinia, Dioscoria, a pretty herbaceous perennial Ardisia,
etc. We have not made two miles since breakfasting at Teiyet, about four
hours ago. Convolvulus pileatus and dwarf bamboo are common on the low
hills. The Lagerstraemia has petals none, or minute squamiform.
Reached Caman Myoo, a village on the right bank, at 7 P.M.
_June 5th_.--Many boats are here, owing to there being an excellent
place of anchorage in still water, protected by an Island, but there are
not many houses in the village.
Below, the river again becomes confined between hills, but above this it
expands. These hills are rather bare: no Euphorbia exists, and the whole
vegetation is changed.
Now passing hills, chiefly covered with bamboos. Bignonia crispa occurs,
and a Scilloid plant out of flower is common. Aroideum, similar to that
of Katha, is common, a new species is likewise found, but it is a
Roxburghia, and rare.
Stravadium has very minute stipules, the habit and gemmation is that of
Ternstraemiaceae, and it perhaps connects this order with Myrtaceae;
Punica from this is certainly distinct, owing praeter alia to its valvate
calyx. Soneratia belongs I suspect to Lythrarieae, connecting it with
Myrtaceae.
The Roxburghia above alluded to, is a distinct genus.
Planta quam juniorem tantum vidi vex spithamaea. Radices plurimae
filiformes, cortice crassa, tenacissima obfibras foliiformas ad vaginam
redacta, superiora petiolique purpureo-brunnei, vernatione involutiva,
flores solitarii in axillis foliorum et vaginarum, albi carneo tincti.
Pedicellis subtereti apice, articulatis, monoicis.
Perianth sub-companulat, 4-sepalum, sepalis lanceolato-oblongis a medio
reflexis, estivat imbricat.
Stam. 4. sepalis alterna, filam subanth. magna, subsagittat, connectivo
magno supra in apiculum longum product, et inter loculos in carinam
(carneam) purpuream, loculi angustissimi, viridis, alabastrus lutescens.
Pollen viridescens. Faemin flos, infimus, unum tantum vidi sepala
longiora herbacea, stam. 0.
Ovarium compressum, fol. carpell () {149}, stylus conicus, ovar viridis,
stigma sub-simplex.
Char. gen. Flores monoici Per. 4, sepalum, stam. 4.
Arrived at Prome on the left bank, the stockade seemed to be out of
repair: the water front of the stockade is about 800 yards in length: it
extends about 200 yards back from the river, and beyond the hill on which
are pagodas: opposite the pagodas it is of brick, and beyond this a long
line of houses or huts extends; there is no appearance of improvement
going on. The hills on the opposite side present the same features,
trees just commencing to leaf; every thing indicates a temporary
sterility caused by the long hot season. Above this place we passed a
village extending 500 yards along the river. Cocoa trees thrive well
here, and are not uncommon. Borassus continues.
Shwe Doung, 6 miles from Prome, is as large as Prome itself: the country
beyond this expands; no hills were seen near this part of the river; some
way below Palmyras are common; Bombax, Ficus, and Tamarind are the chief
trees.
Passed Reedan, a straggling place on the left bank. A range of hills
occur, extending close along the right bank, and which, as well as the
distant ones, are wooded to the summit, as the hills are on the Malay
Coast.
Passed Thengyee, a village on the right bank. Hills at this place
approach close to the river for a short way, but soon cease. They are
covered with Teak, scarped, and many images are carved in the recesses of
the rock, apparently sandstone. Thengyee, just below this, seems to be a
great place for boat-building.
Halted at Talownmo at 7.5 P.M.
_June 6th_.--At this place there are no hills near the river, which is
sub-divided by islands. Painted partridge continues. Kioungee; palmyra
trees continue in plenty. Talipat never seen dead, but with its
inflorescence. Passed Meavion and Runaown. Palmyras here occur: great
numbers of boats passing up and down. Traffic considerable.
Moneu, a village on the left bank, at which many boats were observed.
The river banks throughout are today flat and alluvial, and those of the
Islands are covered with moderate sized grasses; extreme banks jungly.
Palmyras continue.
Halted at Thendan, on left bank.
_June 7th_.--The country here has the usual alluvial features; few
villages are seen, but as the river is sub-divided, one must not judge
from this and the consequent barren appearance, that the country is less
populated than above.
Stravadium is common in the woods: on the banks, noticed Acrostichum
difforme; Epiphytical Orchideae are common. Urticea fructibus late
obcordatis.
Passed Tharawa, a village on the left bank, and Theenmaga myoo on the
right bank, which seems a large place; here Pandanus commences. Palmyras
were seen, together with a few Areca. At 4 P.M. I saw at Zulone myoo,
for the first time during the descent, a Crocodile, which is an
indication of our approach to the coast. A Bombax is now common on some
of the islands, the banks are now generally grassy.
This Bombax is apparently the same as that of Assam; the river here
resembles the B. pootur about Chykwar.
Halted at a small village about six miles above Donai-byoo near Dollong.
_June 8th_.--Donai-byoo, 7 A.M. This is a large place, on the right
bank, having a good many boats.
Niown Sheedouk on the left bank, three miles below Donai-byoo, is
likewise a large place.
Tides exist here, and their influence extends upwards as far as Zulone,
that is to say, the stream is much diminished during the flood. Entered
Rangoon river at 1 P.M.: it is here not more than 200 yards broad.
Nioungdoa is a middling sized village, situated about a mile from the
mouth or entrance, at which were observed plenty of boats. The banks of
the river are here grassy; tall Saccharum and Arundo occur, but not so
large as those of Assam. The river a small way below the mouth is not
more than 100 yards wide. Bombax and Ficus are the most common trees:
Lagerstraemia grandiflora forms a little tree jungle: Butea likewise
occurs.
Passed Tsamaloukde, a small village on the right bank.
_June 9th_.--Halted at 6 this morning at a small village on the left
bank. The features of the country now become paludosal. Acanthus
ilicifolius, Cynometra acacisides, Cyperaceae, Soneralia acida,
Avicennia, Stravadium, Croton malvaefolium are very common, Creni sp.
Caesalpinia, and a leguminous tree, fructibus 1-spermis, drupaceis,
Webera, Premna, Cissi sp. potius _Vitis_, Clerodendri sp. Heritiera
fomes, Flagellaria indica, Hibisci species populneae affinis, Arundo,
Ambrosinia 2 species.
Country open, low, and quite flat, admirable for rice cultivation.
Crinoid giganteum, Excaecaria, Agallocha, no Rhizophores, Ipomaea
floribus maximis, hypocrateriform, albis, foliis cordatis. Soneratia
apetala less common, but becomes more so as we approach Rangoon, it is an
elegant tree with pendulous branchlets. Heritiera is very common and
conspicuous when in flower, it is then of a yellow brown tint;
Acrostichum aureum, Calamus, and Lomaria scandens occur.