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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2011
The route to Martaban had not before this period been explored by Europeans, nor frequented by the natives since 1810, when an army marched by it on the way to attack Junk-Ceylon; and a dread of the Siamese had caused it to be almost abandoned by the subjects of his Burman Majesty. To ascertain the nature of the intervening country seemed desirable, as well in a geographical light, as on account of the interest which it would claim in the event of the new conquests being permanently retained by the British. Most of the baggage, and the sick, were sent off by sea. My escort consisted of a native officer, two non-commissioned officers, and eighteen sepoys, two interpreters, two guides, four servants, and about 100 followers) to carry baggage and provisions; which, however, were found inadequate afterwards, so that more were hired at Yea.
page 217 note 1 It would appear that some fire which had been left by my people after cooking had, subsequent to our leaving the place, set the long grass in a blaze, by which the stockade was burned down.
page 219 note 1 A large town stood formerly at the mouth of this river.
page 219 note 2 The new boundary of Yea and Tavoy is Pautten kyaung.
page 220 note 1 Vol. II. p, 204.
page 220 note 2 The second place of this name.
page 220 note 3 My Burmans informed me that it had scarcely ever been frequented since the Burman General Taignun, the Daiwún, or Viceroy, marched over it when sent to attack Junk-ceylon, for the last time, in 1810. On this occasion he had a body of 800 pioneers.
page 221 note 1 This river is termed Klung kron river. Some traces of cultivation having once been employed here appeared. A few jack-trees were observed.
page 227 note 1 The embassy to Ava in 1826-7, discovered “no less than sixty inscriptions on sandstone at Pugan, where are the ruins of the ancient capital of that name, and including Sakaing and other places, in all not less than 330; and the king had collected at the great Arraean temple, near Amerapoora, from various parts of the country, no less than 260 such monuments. A few of these are on fine white marble, hut the greater number are on sandstone. These stones resemble those placed at the heads of graves in England. Some of the inscriptions are in the round Bali character, and others in the Burman, but most in the former. They all contain dates, and generally the name of the reigning king, with references to some historical event. But the chief object is to commemorate the founding of some temple or monastery.”—Journal of Science and Arts, &c.
page 235 note 1 Lieut. George, 13th M.N.I., and Mr. Adams, commanding a gun-brig, favoured me with their company on this occasion.
page 237 note 1 A coyan is 5323 Ibs., and is a Malayan or Straits measure.
page 239 note 1 One of these Amazons was killed in an attack on their Stockade. The second i s also supposed to have been shot or killed, by the bursting of a shell, while she was being carried across a river.
page 242 note 1 One hundred and thirty-three pounds and one-third.
page 242 note 2 Rang—a thorny tree.
Makú—a tree, the hark of which is used to dye yellow.
Lac—the red dye.
Maikham and Mai—indigo.
Mokmún—a small fruit growing on a shrub, ten feet or so in height.
Maukhíka—a sweet round fruit, about the size of an apple.
Mokman—a fruit having a thick rind, about the size of a bean.
Taphyúra—an acid fruit.
Maukman—a sweet large subacid fruit.
Thapan—a long sweet fruit.
Maklot—fruit of a creeping plant.
Maklang—the jack.
Mapha—a low thorny shrub, bearing fruit.
Tekye —the varnish gum.
Castor, ginger, belleric, emblic, sesame, are common.
Torches are prepared of light resinous wood.
Saltpetre is imported from Siam.
page 245 note 1 The Shaana were not well enough versed in Burmese to enable me to obtain a correct translation of these verses. They were, they said, in praise of British valour, which shows that they can temporize like other people.
This song was sung to me by one of the Plaau with much simplicity of style and with hat in hand, which he managed so as to give him a sort of theatrical air. This hat, with a brim of umbrella-like capacity, he held in his right hand, and then applying the fore finger of his left to his left ear, and inclining a little to that side, he began the song.
page 248 note 1 Asiatic Researches.
page 249 note 1 Embassy to Siam.
page 250 note 1 The Egyptian year of old, had its first month Thoth, shifted during the circular period of 1460 years, through all the signs or seasons, until it came round to the same place again.—(Maurice.)
M. Cassini conjectures, that the same arrangement of the fifth month becoming the first of the year, which obtains in Siam, was owing to an error in their system, by which the vernal equinox had lost ground and receded.
page 251 note 1 If this account he literally correct, the population of Che-ung Mai must have been then very limited.
page 255 note 1 A measure called by the Malays guntang, containing about a gallon.
page 258 note 1 This was written in 1825.