The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-11

IMPORTANT DIscovERIEs-A SUCCESSFUL UNDER
TAKING.

IMPORTANT DIsCovERIEs-A SUCCESSFUL UNDER
TAKING.
The British expedition sent to explore the old
commercial route from Burmah to southwestern
China, by wsy of Bhamo, has returned in safety
to Mandslay, the capital Of Burmah. II has occu.
pied about eight months, having left Mandslay on
the 18Th of January, and returned on tue 10Th OF
September. The Calcutta correspondent Of the
London Times tells the story Of the expedition
Cspt. Sladen, English political agent az Man
dalsy, was made leader. With him we're associ-
ated Capt. Williams, as engineer officer; Or. An
derson. curator of the Indian Museum In Calcutta,
as naturalist, and two members Of the mercantile
community OF Rangoon. Capt. Williams and one
of the merchants returned when the mission had
gone half way, and the former was succeeded by
Mr.. Gordon.
Leaving the Irrawaddy at Bhsmo, the mission
soon entered the Khakyen hills. Up to this point
their steps had been logged by Burmese intrigue,
and the prospect was gloomy enough. BY tne
10th of May the expedition was still at Ponsee. In
these hills, but Capt. Sladen had stolen march
on the people, who were nothing 10th to detain
him till he had spent all his money, and seem to
have been in fear OF the Burmese. Capt. Saden
sent secret messenger to the chiefs of the Shan
States beyoDd-tbose States subject to the Pan
thays, and they at once secretly responded, IN
viting and helping the party to come on. The
Khakyeps now became most friendly. The mis-
sion derived great prestige from the fact that its
approach was the means Of expelling from Man
phoo the Chinese brigand, Seesatahee. Though
his funds began to fail him in consequence OF the
delay at Ponsee Capt Sladen determined to accept
the Shan invitation TO Momein, which he reached
in some state. His plan was then either to push
to the Pantbae capital of Tall, If all were quiet,
or to hold at MOmen q congress of all the chiefs
interested In the trade. He soon learned that the
former was impossible. The country was dis.
turbed.
The governor of Momein rules the eight Shan
States or provinces which extend due northeast
from Burmah proper. He received the mission In
AL nd ANITA fail nd
its members at the cost of the Panthay govern
ment during its stay. He sent by Capt. Sladen
letters from that government to the governor.
general, in which promise Is made OF cheerful
cooperation in reviving the trade and protection
to all British and foreign traders. The Panthsys
are represented as vigorous, energetic and so
cial people. Their officers were personally on
excellent terms with the mission at Mofnein, and
expressed great regret at It's departure. The
deputies from the principal saulinas or chiefs of
the Shans, who met Capt. Sladen at Ponsee, arc
represented as having attained higher state OF
civilization than most Shans and even Chinese
| gentlemen.
They had not heard of British connection with
Burmah, or of our treaty. but they knew that the
| mission had been sent by great and powerful
nation. They declared that their States alone
could supply one hundred thousand mules for car
| rage and longed for the opening up Of trade to
compensate for the miseries and loss they have
suffered ;since the outbreak of the civil war In
| Yunan. They implored that Captain Sladen would
return with large embassy and full powers to
| make treaty.
After such a reception by the Pauthay represen.
| tatives at Monein the return of the mission was
| triumphant. Even the Khakyens showed such
affection for its members that they would not al
| low them TO return by any other route than that
| by which they had advanced, being eager to keep
| the profits of trade to themselves.
But Capt. Sladen and bis companions managed
| to cross over from Manwyne to Hotha, aud To re-
turn thence over the Khakyen hills by the route
nj foil OUa ~ mi Q oaia
! tween Burmah and China. complete survey
| was made of the Sawuddy route also, so that we
| now know the three main tracks through these
hills. and there full data for fixing on the best
hereafter. So friendly the Khskyens that we
do not need even to subsidize them. They are
more eager than we are, and thirty of their chiefs
accompanied Capt Sladen TO Bhsmo. where they
took an oath of fidelity to him Khakyen fashion,
while the Bermese officials. outwitted and dis
gusted, looked on. Capt Sladen, regret to say,
is i'll from the effects of the journey. The king.
who likes him personally, has welcomed him back,
but has refused to give an audience TO the mis-
sission. about which be will not even talk.
RESULTS.
Ihave not yet seen the official reports, nor do
know more Of DR.. Andersons scientific work than
that he has returned laden wife spoils, botanical
and geological, and bursting with all sorts OF new
facts. But this instalment of the results Of one of
the most successful missions we have ever sent
beyond our border may be accepted till the mem
bers tell their own tale. IL illustrates the folly
| of tbat excessive timidity which would restrain
| even private travellers from passing the border,
and which denies to civilization and humanity. no
| less than to science and commerce, so many dark
| places of the earth. What Speke and Grant, In
| dian officers, have done in Africa may be more
| easily accomplished in Asia.
The difficulties experienced by the Pundit,
| whose exploration of Tibet described sometime
| ago, it now turns out, would all have been pre-
vented If, like Mr.. Beckmore, Mr. Cooper, and
| others. a formal passport under treaty had been
obtained from Pekin. Such is the official state
ment made by Mr.. Consul Morrison to the Royal
Geographical society at its meeting on the 23d of
March last.
| The immediate result of Capt. Slsden's sue.
| cess will doubtless be the dispatch of digni6ed
and well-equipped embassy to Talu the moment
| the road from Momein is open. That must be
| done. and, under treaty, British agent must be
/ appointed to Bhamo, whence the navigation TO
| Rsngoon is as easy as that Of the Ganges from
| Allshabad to Calcutta. A railway. too. is likely
| 10 be made from Rangoon to Bronze, in the drec.
| ton Of the frontier and Bhamo up the Irrswaddy
| valley. II is to be hoped that the government of
India will sanction the first part Of this project,
ss far as Prone, which has just been laid before
| it insgreat detail.