ASSAM, BURMA, AND CEYLON 181

proving its recent conformation. Not far above Prome,
which is itself 75 miles above Rangoon, the river emerges
from the hills which mark the ancient boundary between
Ava and Pegu (i.e. between Upper and Lower Burma),
and spreads into the plains which thereafter conduct it
by many channels to the sea. It is somewhat remarkable
that Prome was never an ancient capital. Burma is a
land of ancient capitals, and the site of one exists very
near Prome, about 6 miles to the east of it, but Prome
tself escaped the honour. The width of the river here
varies considerably ; at some points it is 3 or 4 miles
across ; at others it narrows to 600 or 800 yards. There
are shoals and cataracts in the narrow places which intercupt
 navigation when the river is low; but the whole
distance (500 miles) between Rangoon and Mandalay is
ordinarily navigable without any great difficulty by
steamers of light draught.
For the last 60 or 70 miles of its course the Irawadi
splits into many channels, and reaches the sea by fourteen
 different mouths. About 60 miles from the sea the
Bassein Channel takes off to the west. It joins an excellent
 harbour, protected by Cape Negrais, and is navigable
for ships as far as Bassein, which is some 15 miles above
the harbour ; beyond that only country barges can navigate.
 The Rangoon, or eastern channel, offers advantages
for navigation which have led to the concentration of
aearly all the commerce of Burma at the Rangoon port.
The tide ascends these channels for 50 miles in the dry
season, and as far as its influence extends, the delta is
covered with forest and grass plains. Above the reach of
the tide tall reedy grass takes the place of the forest
growth, without much underwood. Rice cultivation commences
 above the delta and beyond the grass jungles.
East of the Irawadi basin is that of the Salwin, and
between the two is the comparatively small but fertile
Sitang Valley, at the mouth of which the old Burman
capital of Pegu is situated. The Sitang basin is flat, with
all the Irawadi Valley characteristics. It is important, as
it offers the best line of railway approach to the interior ;