Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/449

1837.] macy of the Burman authorities, and their own subjection to the kingdom of Ava.

The new governor having succeeded by threats and the practice of every art of extortion, in raising as large a sum as it was possible to collect from the inhabitants of the valley and surrounding hills, announced his intention of returning to Mogaung; and on the 5th of April no intelligence having been received from Assam, Captain left Meingkhwon on his return to Ava, with a very favorable impression of the Singphos he had seen, who appear to possess great capabilities of improvement, and whose worst qualities are represented as the natural result of the oppressive system of government under which they live. One of their chieftains in conversation with Captain furnished a clue to the estimation in which they held the paramount authorities around them by the following remark. "The British," he said, "are honourable, and so are the Chinese, Among the Burmans you might possibly find one in a hundred, who, if well paid, would do justice to those under him. The Shans of Mogaung," he added "are the dogs of the Burmans, and the Assamese are worse than either, being the most dangerous back-biting race in existence."

On the 12th of April, Captain reached Mogaung, and some boats arriving shortly afterwards from the serpentine mines, he availed himself of so favorable an opportunity of acquiring some additional information regarding that interesting locality. He found the boats laden with masses of the stone so large, as to require three men to lift them. The owners of the boats were respectable Chinese Musalmáns, who were extremely civil, and readily answered all the questions put to them by Captain, who learnt "that, although the greater number of Chinese come by the route of Santa and Tali, still they are only the poorer classes who do so: the wealthier people come by Bamo, which is both the safest and the best route. The total number of Chinese and Chinese Shans who have this year visited the mines is 480."

"I have made every inquiry," adds Captain, "regarding the duties levied on these people, both on their arrival here and on their purchasing the serpentine, and I am inclined to think that there is not much regularity in the taxes, a great deal depending on the value of the presents made to the head-man. Formerly, the Chinese were not allowed to go to the mines, but I understand the following is now the system carried on in this business.

"At particular seasons of the year, there are about 1000 men em-