May 9th.—­Katha is on the right bank of the Irrawaddi; it is situated on an eminence, and commands a fine view of a fine reach of the river; the situation indeed is excellent.  It contains nearly 200 houses, but these are not of the better description.  To the west is a fine chain of hills, the lowest ranges of which are distant about one mile and a half; the highest peaks are perhaps 1500 feet.  No signs of alarm or disturbances are here visible, although part of the force that invested Kioukgit came from this village.  We here learn the agreeable news that the country below is quiet, and that no robbers now infested the road.  The Thogee is a fine looking young man; very polite.  This village boasts of some pretty pagodas, well grouped, and a very fine Kiown, the workmanship of which astonished me, particularly the carving; it is built of teak, the posts being very stout, and very numerous.  Several merchant boats left before us, apparently anxious for our escort.

Behind the town is a large plain used for the cultivation of paddy.  Otherwise the jungle comes close to the houses, although the larger trees have been felled for firewood, etc.:  the woods are dry, and tolerably open.  In the morning I went out towards the hills; the chief timber trees are a fine Dipterocarpus, and a Hopea; Pentapetes likewise occurs; Terminalia Chebula.  Gathered a fine Arum, somewhat like A. campanulatum.  An arboreous Gardenia, as at Mergui; Myrtacea, Vitex, Bauhinia of yesterday; Randia, Andropogon aciculare; some stunted bamboos were likewise observed.  Altogether Katha is the prettiest place I have yet seen.  The river opposite it is confined to one bed, about 500 yards broad.

May 9th.—­Left at 7 A.M., and reached the mouth of the Shwe Lee at 1 P.M.; the distance according to B. being sixteen miles.  Passed a few villages, but none of any size; the houses of all continue of the same description.  The river presents the same features.  Salix continues.  Sandbanks occupied by annual Compositae occur, two Polygona, Campanula, a Ranunculus, much like that of Suddiya, a Labiata, Paronychia, two Spermacoces; Bombax occurs just below Katha; Salix and Rosa continue.  Shwe Lee is a considerable river, at the mouth between 4 and 500 yards broad; but one-third of this is unoccupied by water, and the stream is not deep, although of the ordinary strength.  Above, it narrows considerably.

7.5 P.M.  Temperature of the air 76 degrees.  Of Irrawaddi 74 degrees.

May 9th.—­Tsa-gaiya.  This is a mean village on the left bank, about eighteen miles from Katha; it is close to a low range of hills, and occupies part of a plain, which is adapted for paddy cultivation.  Near the village to the North, is a small jeel, covered to a great extent with a large Scirpus, Jussiaea, Azolla, Salvinia, etc.  Water-fruits are abundant; round this paddy is cultivated, and they appear to cut it at this time.  Low ground near the jeel is covered with a low, handsome Stravadium or Barringtonia, as well as a Xanthophyllum, resembling exceedingly in appearance a Leguminosa:  the wood is hard.  Calamus is also common.  A handsome Nauclea occurs, and on the grassy margins of the plain a small Euphrasia is common.