WD540(36)

P’anoramic view of Umeerapoora. Looking N.’

THE portion here represented, which completes the river face of the city on the north-west, is almost barren of religious edifices; a small cluster of pagodas in the right distance contributing the only objects of that kind to relieve the mass of the landscape of its dulness.

A very beautiful and woody Island, however, appearing to divide the river in mid-stream, covered with rich dense foliage, amidst which several snug villages appeared to be nestled and shaded, was in itself, when lit by the morning sun, streaming over the eastern mountains, an object of sufficient pictorial interest to redeem any scene from insipidity. A Kyoum on the eastern margin, high raised upon piles, and at the rainy reason of the year cut off from the island, isolated by water, which gives to the building the appearance of a floating Monastery, adds a picturesque feature to the scene. The island here refered to is no doubt the ‘Allon-gyoon’ of Major Allan’s Map. The ‘Tha-ya-goon’, or ‘Hta-yah-goon’, at the northern extremity of which Colonel Benson’s Residency was situated, lies nearly parallel with it, nearer in shore, and is not seen in this landscape.

The Mengoon ruin is here repeated in the north-west distance; and to the right the mountain range on the east of the city is seen to commence. The conical hill a little on the right of the centre is believed to be the ‘Maundiye-toung’, about eight miles distant. The thatched buildings occupying the fore-part of this picture are of that kind always tenanted by tradesmen, artizans, and, in short, those who go to make up the mass of the population. The street running northward through the view is the Yattan, which is occupied almost exclusively by shops for sale of Rice, Lacquered-ware, British Piece and China Goods.

Near to the crossing of the roads upon the right, is seen a public well, an object in the construction of which the Burmese sometimes display a considerable degree of thoughtful attention and decorative taste. The wells are sunk to the depth of from thirty to fifty feet. The water is said to be variable in quality, but all are free to general use.

One or two solitary date trees may be observed in this direction. The tree is seldom seen, the fruit is very poor, and the toddy, or juice, is not allowed to be drawn for fermentation.