day, until it is brought opposite the village marked C on the sketch; a fixed "weir" of bamboo is then made across the lake to form the one side of the enclosure into which the fish are driven; the ponderous mass of framework is now taken to pieces and reconstructed across the water at the point B, from whence it is dragged to the weir last fixed at the village, and the ends gradually contracted until they form an oblong space within which the fish are enclosed. When the length of the weirs and of the moving drag frame is considered (about 900 yards,) and the depth of from 12 to 30 ft. of the latter, together with the excessive labour in moving so large a body in one mass, it will be a matter of surprise to learn that the sum of 3000 Rupees is annually paid by the Een Thoogyee or Chief of the Lake for the privilege of monopoly of its waters, but as no Burman can be brought to appreciate the value of his own labour when employed in his own work, this essential charge, (which would swallow up the entire profits of the speculator were he necessitated to hire such labour), forms no item of the estimate, and each man employed counts as gain all the fish which come to his share after paying any substantial expense he may have incurred during the period of working. The taking of the fish from the enclosure into which they are ultimately driven is deferred until the full moon of June, by which time the first showers of the monsoon have reduced the temperature of the water, and the fish are then less subject to die than would be the case with the full blaze of the sun, unmitigated by the rain, striking upon the crowded mass; with this precaution, however, a large number of fish die before the whole has been cleared, and the stench of their corruption taints the air for miles around. Being unable to stay to witness the final process of catching and disposing of the fish, I am dependant upon the Chief of the Lake for the following description, and as his interests are affected in depreciating the amount of outturn, the quantities stated may be considered as within the actual. On the near approach of the drag-net to the space forming the enclosure, the fish are observed to be in great commotion, rushing in all directions and attempting to force their way through; finding the net too strong, many of the larger kind attempt to leap over the barrier, which they effect, only, however, to fall into nets spread to catch them ere they reach the water; as the space becomes more confined, the disturbance of the mass of fish becomes so great that the noise of the splashing, and especially the deep hollow "grunting" of the larger kinds, is heard at several miles distance, and although this may appear tinctured with a little exaggeration, it will be intelligible when the number of fish caught is never below 70,000 to 80,000 of all kinds, some of which weigh upwards of 15 viss or about 60 lbs. ; and mixed up with the mass it is not unusual to find alligators of all sizes, from the infant of a month, to the grown parent whose skull measures two cubits in length. Strange to relate, no accident or casualty has ever been known to occur from the presence of alligators in this lake, although the men employed in working the drag net are constantly compelled to dive to the bottom in the deeper parts, to clear the lower portion of obstruetions in its bed, and I have myself seen an ancient member of the family, whose length could not be short of 15 ft., lying lazily on the surface within 100 yards of a cluster of children bathing near the bank. During the taking and disposal of the fish, some 8 to 10,000 persons are collected at the small village in front of the preserve, a bazar is formed, and temporary sheds for smoking the fish are built, where the principal amount of business is transacted; the scene altogether is novel and exciting, and, but for the fishy odour, fresh and corrupt, which pervades the atmosphere, would be well worth the visit of the curious observer. I omit the native names of the principal fish; they belong, however, to the following genera,-Perca, Cyprinus, Gobio, Labeo, Pimelodus, Cirrhinus, Cyprinodon and Silurus, some of which attain the large size previously noted. In addition to these, however, there is a multitude of smaller fry which are converted into the coarser kinds of " Nga-pee," and are only interesting to the Ichthyologist, who would here find a large field for observation. But of those named above, some 25,000 viss, or upwards of 40 tons, are annually disposed of on the spot, and, taking the amount of revenue paid for this fishery or 3000 viss as representing 40 tons of fish, we have for the whole of the fresh water fisheries of Pegu an amount of upwards of 1800 tons of fish annually supplied to meet native requirements, an item considerably within the actual production, but which will serve, however, to exhibit the value of the inland fisheries as a sourc of Government Revenue. The accompanying rough sketch will give but a faint idea of th beauty of the scenery of the lake or of the picturesque sites of th villages on its banks; it must be seen to be fully appreciated. Extract from a Report on the Dependency of Bustar.-By Capta C. GLASFURD, Deputy Commissioner of the Upper Godave. Districts. In comparison with the extent of the Dependency, there are not many objects of interest as might be expected. None of the previo Rajas of Bustar have erected temples or any permanent building and were the present dynasty to pass away, they would not lea behind them a single edifice of any description to commemorate the rule. It was different with the ruling power whom they appear have displaced, viz. that of the Nagbunse Rajas of Barsoor ar Bhyrumgurh. Although it is nearly five hundred years since their pow was broken, and their name has been all but forgotten, yet no one ca see the ruined temples at Barsoor without instituting a comparisc between the past and present rule. It is not that the former we greater than many other petty Rajas, but that the present are s inferior. The ruins of the ancient Barsoor, said to have been th capital of the previous power, are to be traced close to the north the present village of that name, through a dense jungle of bambo which has overgrown the site. A high brick wall, the ruins of which are now difficult to follow, seems to have enclosed a space of abou one square mile; whether the city was contained within this I an unable to say; but within it there are the ruins of four or five temples They are at some little distance from each other, and from the masses of rock of which they have been constructed, and the richness and beauty of their sculpture, impress one with a favorable idea of the taste and wealth of those under whose rule they were built. Three are in a tolerable state of preservation, one sacred to Mahadeo and another to Peddama, the sister of Dunteshwarree, the original representation of whom was removed to Duntewara by Dulput Deo, Raja of Bustar. |