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INDIA

greatly shut in by mountains, which enclose the valley
throughout its length north of Mandalay, and which closely
border its left bank south of that capital. All Upper
Burma may be called mountainous, although the Shan
states which lie between the Irawadi and the Salwin are
more regular in their conformation, which approaches
that of an elevated plateau or tableland intersected by
wide, fertile, and populous valleys.
A little below Mandalay (which is now the recognised
official capital of Burma and is situated not far north of
the more ancient capitals, Ava and Sagain) the Irawadi
is joined by the Myinge from the Shan highlands to the
aorth-east. The Myinge has always offered a fairly open
route to Chinese and Shan traders from the Salwin, and
it is this valley now which carries the railway (not yet
completed) from Mandalay to the Kunlon ferry over the
Salwin ; the point where, for many years, the Eastern
traders have been wont to meet, and from which they
diverged westwards into various parts of the Burmese
empire. From the Kunlon ferry to the Mekong, and
from the Mekong to the Yang-tse-Kiang, are the next
links in this great commercial chain which has yet to be
bridged over by the steel line—a direct distance of less
than 300 miles, which will finally connect Central China
with Central Burma.
About 35 miles to the south-west below Mandalay the
[rawadi and the Chindwin unite, and for another 30 the
river continues its south-westerly course, leaving the
ruins of another ancient capital (Pagan) on its left bank,
and then runs south for %o miles to Prome (passing
Thyetmyo, 20 miles above Prome), which is the terminus
of a branch line of railway from Rangoon. So far the
[rawadi runs amongst hills, but the hills are of decreasing
altitude, and are frequently separated by wide, well-cultivated
 plains, They are generally covered with forestrees,
 amongst which teak is abundant. Petroleum is
found in great quantities on the eastern banks of the
river in this part of its course, and vast numbers of fossil
bones are dug out of the hills near the petroleum wells,