e houses are regular, and as trees are
interspersed, a pleasing effect is produced. The appearance is much
improved by a lattice before each house. The houses also are of a
superior description, a few only are of brick. The fort is surrounded by
an additional wall, and a broad but shallow ditch. The palace is a
handsome, irregular, gilt edifice; but its precincts are not kept so
clean as they might be. The Shwottoo is a handsome hall. The town
altogether conveys an idea of importance. The river is about 800 yards
broad opposite the Residency; but above, it is encroached on by a
sandbank. Boats are numerous, and opposite Tsegain there is a busy
ferry, especially now the king is at Tsegain. This is a much preferable
place, and rendered much more pleasing by its superb Tamarind trees, with
their most elegant foliage and sculptured trunks. The plants cultivated
about Ava are Palmyra, Cocoa (rare). Tamarinds abound; Carica Papaya,
Punica Granatum; Mangoes, which are of good description; Cordia,
Plantains, AEgle Marmelos.

The country is flat, and destitute of trees to the south and southwest.
The whole of this is cultivated during the rains, chiefly for Gram,
Tobacco, Capsicum, and a Melilotus. At present the plains are barren,
the low places being almost exclusively occupied by a Combretum; the rest
give a new Polygonum, Lippia, 2 or 3 Compositae, and a curious dwarf
grass. On the walls Linaria is common. Noticed near one of the gates,
Cryptostegia grandiflora; the waste places and banks are occupied by
Argemone, Mollugineae three, Xanthium, Dentella, and low annual
Compositae.

_May 26th_.--Visited Tsegain in the evening, and returned to Ava on the
following morning.

_May 27th_.--Noticed Phoenix sylvestris. The Euphorbia is common; it
is not a Cactus, but a species of this genus, ramis complanatis, is found
though not common; as well as an Agave or Aloe, but this is a doubtful
native. Poinciana pulcherrima, both red and yellow, Rhus? sp. arbuscula,
Vallaris solanacea. A small Lycopodium, Gmelina asiatica? The
additional Madras plants are, Cissus quadrangularis. There is likewise
another fleshy species fol. 3 phyllis, Sarcostemma viminale, Indigofera,
Kalanchoe laciniata is common; so is the white Cyperacea on barren spots!
I met with Sarcostemma ciliatum; Wall.? petalis extus viridescent, intus
ciliisque purpuro sanguinies, but it is rare. Cardiospermum pubescens is
certainly distinct, the flowers a