The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-25
The IndO-Burmese Route to the
Territory.
Adventures and Discoveries of the
Sladen Expedition.
The M0hamM.edan Empire in
West China.
RANGooS, August !, 1889,

HERALD the writer Is met at every turn with eager
questienlngs concerning the Pacific Railroad and
what Americans expect to accomplish. The Anglo
Indians or Anglo-Chnese, who question him, rarely
seem, however, 10 be much in need OF Information
on the subject. They know exactly how many miles
the road Is in length and what the fares and SER
vices are; and they can quote some OF the HgRALD's
editorials on its prospects and the national future
that Is bound up IN it almost by heart And, what
Is more. they have attained as they Will fear
lessly avow, q sure and settled conviction
shat the said railroad, II 1t Is to pay
any dividends whatever must pay them out OF its
receipts for local traffic, and that It's shareholders
had better at dismiss from their minds all hopo
of making any dollars out OF the Eastern trade,
either in freight or passengers. Yet In spite OF oil
this, It is easy see that the mind Of the Anglo
Indian Is sorey troubled and that the Pacific Rail-
road has taken its place beside the bugbears that
have for years haunted his waking dreams-the
slow but resstess approach OF the Russians through
Central Asia TO Northern India the constant acqusi-
tions OF the French in Cochin China, and their
intrgues against SIAM and lastly. the steady growth
OF American influence in China.
II has probably been from some vague feeling that
its commercial omnipotence In the East Is silently
passing away that the English government has
directed Its attention to the possibility OF opening
out a new route to Western China, through Burmah.
The advantages OF this route obvious that 1t is
surprising any Power in possession Of a large part
OF Burmah and with control over the rest, should
have SO long overlooked them large river, nGvl-
gable at all seasons OF the year for steamtugs OF
light drought towing fatboats, runs up the country
to within $50 miles or the Yantse-Kang and to
within 230 miles of the provincial capital OF
Yunnan. short railroad, which might be
easily constructed, or safe caravan road
would I'll up these gaps, and enable the
aft Dan RI 10 IN
provinces OF Western China, Yunnan and Szechuen,
peopled by 3d. 100000 of people. whose produce has
st the present time to be transported 1900 or 800
miles before 1t reaches Shanghai or any Of the ports
on the eastern coast OF China. Ana, as win be
shown below, in establishing this route there are
difficulties be encountered IN the shape OF hos
tity from the peoples through which 1t passes. Half
OF Burmah already belongs TO the British; Upper
Burmah is practically tributary to them, snd the
Panthays who have obtained control IN Souhwe stern
China, and are Independent OF the Chinese imperial
government. are eager TO open out a western chan
mel for their commerce. Rangoon the chief port OF
Burmah, is q third OF the voyage nearer Europe
than any Of the Chinese ports and the runous rates
OF insurance in the China seas wouid be saved Both
In distance to the coast and in distance from
the coast to Europe therefore. this route has
great superiority the route via the Yantse to
Shanghai. Ii has, in fact, only been kept out OF
sight by the non progressive character Of the ars
tocratic bockheads who have, as rule Of late
years, had the main control OF the British Indian
government And even now, when It's importance
Is plainly seen by every white resident in Burmah,
and after the practicabiity OF opening 1t and the
commercial benefits that would accrue from doing
60 have been demonstrated by the saden expedi-
ton, the authorities seem unwilling TO take active
steps to place this channel OF trade In safe working
order.
For many years 1t has beets known that English
and European goods have made their way to China
through Uppcr Burmah by this roue, though in
very ,ilaited degree and entirely by native agencies
The merchants Of Rangoon, fully conscious Of the
fact have repeatedly pressed upon the government
the duty OF throwing 1t open In some way TO Euro
peans and IN the spring OF last year they succeeded
far 10 persuade the authorities to send out an
exploring expedition to spy out the lands and
sound the peoples through which the proposed new
road must pass. This expedition started from
Bhamo. a town almost on we further
frontier OF the king Of Burmaa's terrific;
after proceeding far as Momien, one OF the prln
.s1pa cities OF the Panthays, returned to Raneoon
however the facts Of the expedition were kept
comparatively secret and it has only been very re-
Gently that Captain Bowers, one OF rs members and
the representative OF the Rangoon Chamber OF Com
merce, has published tor private Circulation only
particular account of the adventures ana disc0ve-
rles OF The exploration party The Official report OF
the Journey has not yet emerged from the nan Is OF
the printer but will be published ia tine PROBABLY
for the mail after next, The following narrative Oh
the expedition Is mainly taken from Captain Bowers
pamphlet
the exploration party was organized on very
extensive scale, and was placed under the leader
ship OF Captain Saden, man eminently lifted Tor
the task and who is now the resident political agent
OF the British India government at @andalay, the
capital OF Upper Burmah. Under Captaia sladen
were Captain Williams engineer; Or. Anderson, OF
the Calcutta Museum; Theodore Stewart and Cap
tain Bowers, commercial representatives; J.. ".
Burn, Interpreter, and Iemadar Mohammed Ali Khan
and nity rank ana lle OF the Rangoon ana Prone
police force. in addition 10 these there was sur
veying stan numbering about a dozen, ana six or
seven men under the orders OF Or. Anderson as a
collecting party. Altogether the expedition con-
sisted OF between eighty and ninety men.
THE START.
The party having been efficiently equipped and
provided with well-stored cash chest were taken
up the irrawaddi to Mandalay by tho mail boat. The
King OF Burmah, who had been consulted III regard
to the expedition, had promised 70 transport them
l ii, thence to Bnamo IN ms own steamer, and to
give them every facility for passing through his
dominioas He did not, however, give them very
cordial welcome and although, after some delay, he
covered on arriving at that place, that the King In
tended TO adopt every means in his power TO defeat
texts the party were detained at this point for
month. The governor OF tue place had few
days before their arrival been Killed, and
the Tseekays or local chiefs, received them IN
the coolest possible manner ana told them that the
mules, which the King had promised them should
De In readiness, had not been collected and that IL
was Impossible TO say when they could have them.
twas only with the greatest difficulty that they oh.
taned O house TO i've In, aud the provisions they
needed were charged at r.dcuousiy extortionate
rates. Alter few days new governor arrived,
out THIS magnae would not land FOR three days, be-
cause be lancied they were unlucky and after he
dlu lam he would not see anybody for two more
oays, Tor the same reason. From TINS man the
party got no better treatment than from his
deputies and gradually Captain Sladen, from one
source ana another, obtained proofs OF the double
aeanhs oi the King. the fun particulars Of his
pernuy nave however, only been known since tho
return OF Tue party IL seems the King issued orders
70 tDe autn01tles al Bnano that the exped ion was
on no account to be allowed TO return To- kiandalay
snat IL was to be lost, or disposed orr az some con-
venient point or the Journey Acting on these
Instructions the Tseekays and Governor az Rhamo
sent enissaries among the Kakhens VINO are ferce
anu Waruke people, TO stir them up TO destroy the
party among the hills. The Shans who occnny The
county beyond the Kakhens, were warned that The
nngias, were gong TO annex their lands ard mes
sengers were sent to Tattoo to poigon tho mimi ~
the King OF the panthays Suman l.. against i Tho no