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244 BIRMAH.
Mheghoon, where commences a high plain, lugged,
and in general uncultivated, if not unsusceptible of
cultivation. Only one considerable village occurs in
the interval on the western bank. The eastern range
of mountains continues to extend along the river as
far as has hitherto been explored. Mr. Burnet,
Capt. Cox's interpreter, ascended as high as Keoun.
meoun, about forty-six miles above Amarapura. The
course of the river is nearly north and south, with a
very slight inclination from the east of north to S.W.
by S. Monchaboo is about eight miles inland to the
west of Keoun-meoun, in lat. 22 40' N., long. 96 20' E.
To the N. of Menchaboo, there is reported to be a
lake of very considerable extent, called Nandokando ;
but no European has hitherto penetrated thus far into
the interior.
Of the northern and eastern extremities of Ava,
scarcely any thing is known. The town of Bamoo,
situated on the Irrawaddy, in lat. 24 N., long. 96 5&
E., is only twenty miles from the Chinese frontier.
Here, as in the days of Marco Polo, there is ajee, or
mart, attended by the Chinese merchants. The governor
of the district, informed Col. Symes, that the
road from the frontier to Manchegee or Yun-nan,
lies over high mountains. He had been twice by this
route to Pekin, and was upwards of three months
performing the journey. During the last thirty days,
he travelled in a boat on canals and rivers.
Above Bamoo, still ascending the valley of the
Trrawaddy, is the Bong district, reaching to Assam on
the north, Yun-nan on the east, and Cassay on the
west. The Bong mountains are inhabited by a wild
tribe, called by the Cassayers, Koukies.*
* For an account of this rude mountain tribe, who are all
hunters and warriors, see Asiat. Res., vol. vii. p. 183.