June 8th.—Donai-byoo, 7 A.M. This is a large place, on the right bank, having a good many boats.
Niown Sheedouk on the left bank, three miles below Donai-byoo, is likewise a large place.
Tides exist here, and their influence extends upwards as far as Zulone, that is to say, the stream is much diminished during the flood. Entered Rangoon river at 1 P.M.: it is here not more than 200 yards broad. Nioungdoa is a middling sized village, situated about a mile from the mouth or entrance, at which were observed plenty of boats. The banks of the river are here grassy; tall Saccharum and Arundo occur, but not so large as those of Assam. The river a small way below the mouth is not more than 100 yards wide. Bombax and Ficus are the most common trees: Lagerstræmia grandiflora forms a little tree jungle: Butea likewise occurs.
Passed Tsamaloukde, a small village on the right bank.
June 9th.—Halted at 6 this morning at a small village on the left bank. The features of the country now become paludosal. Acanthus ilicifolius, Cynometra acacisides, Cyperaceæ, Soneralia acida, Avicennia, Stravadium, Croton malvæfolium are very common, Creni sp. Cæsalpinia, and a leguminous tree, fructibus 1-spermis, drupaceis, Webera, Premna, Cissi sp. potius Vitis, Clerodendri sp. Heritiera fomes, Flagellaria indica, Hibisci species populneæ affinis, Arundo, Ambrosinia 2 species.
Country open, low, and quite flat, admirable for rice cultivation.
Crinoid giganteum, Excæcaria, Agallocha, no Rhizophores, Ipomæa floribus maximis, hypocrateriform, albis, foliis cordatis. Soneratia apetala less common, but becomes more so as we approach Rangoon, it is an elegant tree with pendulous branchlets. Heritiera is very common and conspicuous when in flower, it is then of a yellow brown tint; Acrostichum aureum, Calamus, and Lomaria scandens occur.
CHAPTER IX.
Journal towards Assam and to Bootan—contains notes on distribution of Plants.
Left Calcutta a second time on the 31st August 1837, arrived at Serampore on the 1st September, and spent the day with the Voights.