Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/436

408 gle, which extended nearly the whole way to Mogaung, and no village served to beguile the wearisome monotony of this portion of the journey, until they reached Akouktoung, a small hamlet on the right bank inhabited by Phwons and Shane. Here they met a chief of the Laphae Singphos, who had taken up his residence in this village with a few followers, in consequence of a feud with some neighbouring tribes in his own country to the north. Between Akouk-yua and Tapoh (the next village seen) the bed of the river is filled with rocks and rapids, which render the navigation exceedingly dangerous, the stream shooting over them with such velocity as frequently to rise above the bow of the boat, which, in case of unskilful management, would be instantly upset. The way in which the Phwons and Shans overcome these difficulties, formed a striking contrast to the conduct of the Bunnah and Kathay boatmen. The former working together with life and spirit, still paid the strictest attention to the orders given by the head boatman; while the latter "who think," says Captain Hannat, "that nothing can be done without noise, obey no one, as they all talk at once, and use the most abusive language to each other." He thinks the Phwons and Shans greatly superior to the Burmahs or Kathays,—meaning by the latter those Manipuris resident in Ava, who are Burmans in every thing but origin.

After pausing the last rapids at Tapoh the river expands in breadth to 200 yards; the stream flows with a gentle current, and "the bed is composed of round stones which are mostly quartz. Amongst them, however, there are found massive pieces of pure crystal stone, partaking of the nature of talc, and also pieces of indurated clay of different colours. The banks are alluvial on the surface, but towards the base and near the edge of the river the soil becomes gravelly, and in some places has a stratum of beautiful bright yellow-coloured clay intersecting it."

On the 5th of January the party disembarked from their boats, and as the Myo-wun was to be installed in his new government, the landing was effected with considerable state. "Arrangements," says Capt., "had been made for our reception, and on first landing we entered a temporary house where some religious ceremony was performed, part of which was the Myo-wun supplicating the spirits of three brothers who are buried here, and who founded the Shan provinces of Khanti, Assam, and Mogaung, to preserve him from all evil. After which ceremony he dressed himself in his robe of state, and he and I proceeded hand in hand through a street of Burman soldiers, who were posted from the landing place to the Myo-wun's house, a