30th May.—­I made an excursion into the country which is dry, barren, and sandy, with a descent towards the banks of the river.  Zizyphus, Acacia, Euphorbia 20 feet high, Calotropis, Capparis 2, etc., occur all the same as before, only one Ehretiacea appears to be new.  Hares are very common.  Likewise red and painted Partridges, and Quail.  Carthamus and Tobacco are cultivated, specially the latter at Meengian.  The most common tree here, is Urticea procera? which has always a peculiar appearance.  The country towards Pukoko becomes prettier, the left bank wooded, and the ground sloped very gradually up to Kionksouk, which is barren, and 2,000 feet high at least, with the slopes covered with jungle.

31st May.—­Passed Pagam, a straggling town of some size, famous for its numerous old pagodas of all sorts.  The surface of the country is raviny, and the vegetation continues precisely the same.  Below Pagam, the range of low hills becomes very barren:  altogether the country is very uninteresting.

The low range of hills on the right bank is nearly destitute of vegetation.  The hills present a curious appearance of ridges, sometimes looking like walls.  The country continues the same.

Halted opposite Yowa.

June 1st.—­A low range of hillocks here occurs on the left bank, and as in other places, consisting of sandstone with stunted and scanty vegetation.

Tselow is a large place on the left bank, the river is here much spread out, with large sand banks.  The hills on the right bank present the same features; passed Pukangnai, a large village on the left bank.  Passed Pukkoko, Pagam, Tselow, etc., the hills about this last place abound with Prionites.  Strong wind prevails.

June 2nd.—­Yeanangeown 10 A.M.  The country continues exactly similar to that already observed—­hillocks intersected by ravines, loose sandstone, very barren in appearance.  Vegetation is the same, but more stunted; fossil wood is common, especially in the bottom of ravines. {147} Of fossils very few were seen, but more are to be procured by digging.  The most common trees are Zizyphus, Acacia, and a Capparis:  the most common grass Aristida.  Arrived at Yeanangeown, a busy place judging from the number of boats.

Wind less strong.  At 2 P.M. stopped at Wengma-thoat, where Zizyphus is extremely common.  Euphorbia seems rather disappearing.

The plants met with at the halting place six miles above Yeanang, were Euphorbia, Olax, Zizyphus, Mimosa, Carissa, Ximenia, Prionites, Calotropis, Gymnema, Capparis pandurata et altera species arborea, Murraya rare, Gossypium frutex 6-8-petal, Xanthophyllum blue, petiolis alatis of Tagoung, Sidae sp.  On the right bank flat churs continue covered with a small Saccharum.  Vegetation more abundant and greener than before.  Ficus again occurs and Stravadium occasionally.

Passed 5 P.M.  Memboo at a large village on right bank, containing perhaps 200 houses.  The river below this runs between two ranges of low hills, similar in every respect to those already passed.  A Kukkeen woman was observed, who appeared to have a blue face, looking perfectly frightful.