The Irrawaddi here is between the extreme banks a little less than 1.5 miles broad; the channel on which Bamo is situated is the largest, and is 800 yards across.  Two other channels exist, of which the west is the smallest, and carries off least water.  The river is a good deal sub-divided by sandbanks, but is, compared with the Burrumpooter a confined river.  Since our arrival here it has sunk several (say five or six) feet, and no longer looks the noble river it did on our arrival.

The sandbanks when they do exist are either naked, or clothed with partial and not gigantic grassy vegetation.  I have not seen any thing comparable to the churs of the B. pooter in this respect.  The temperature of the river is not particularly low, and is much higher now than during the rise.  From Bamoo the opening of the Kioukdweng is not conspicuous, nobody unacquainted with the course of the river would imagine that it passes through the range of hills to the N. and NNE.  The highest hills visible are to the east.  They are within a day’s journey, and are clothed to their summits.  Some appear 3000 feet high.

Low hills inhabited by wild Khukeens, are visible nearly all around, except perhaps due west.  The wild fierce nature of these people is attended with a great extent of mischief, quite unchecked, without eliciting even precautionary measures on the part of the Burmese Government.

There are a few angles in the Bamoo stockade, and these exist because a straight line cannot be preserved; and large torches are placed out on levers for illuminating the enemy, and loop-holes are cut through the timbers; watch-houses are likewise placed at certain points.  There are two rows of pangahs or fences outside, but not the Singpho pangahs.  Notwithstanding all this the river face is quite defenceless.

The soil is dry and sandy, and cultivation is carried on principally on the churs.  Pumpkins and Gourds are abundant; Yams, (Dioscorea,) not very good.  Rice is sold at the usual price, a basket full for a rupee.  The town is dirty, and not kept in any order.

May 6th.—­We left Bamoo, and in three hours reached Kounglaun, a rather large village on the left bank, containing 100 houses, many of which are respectable, better indeed than any in Bamoo.  It contains many small ruined pagodas.  A gigantic tree grows within the stockade, which is a very poor one.  Punica Granatum, and Beloe, were the only plants of interest observed in the neighbourhood.

We passed several (six or seven) villages, none except one with more than thirty houses; the one alluded to had sixty.  All the houses continue small.  The river is here much subdivided, and in many places shallow; sandbanks are common.  Vegetation of banks is almost entirely Gramineae, and coarse strong-smelling Compositae.  The grasses are different from those previously met with, except the Arundo.  Rosa continues; Salix is common.  Between Koungloung