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Mar, 1897.]
SELUNGS OF THE MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO.
121
was appointed over them, and they were to have periodical visits from the officer in charge, which with a steam gunboat would be perfectly practieable at all times and seasons, something might be made out of, and done for, them, as, besides a very extensive trade in salt-fish, they carry on * fair trade in tortoise and other shells, the prices of which are exceedingly remunerative. Their boats, which are very cleverly and curiously constructel, constantly come to Mergui, and sell their cargoes to great advantage; but such is the moral degradation of these simple people and tendency to vice that althongh after selling their cargo they may have some bundreds of rapees, they seldom go back to their villages with much more than a large supply of spirits sud opium, being cheated out of the rest by some of the rascals of the towns, who are conetantly on the look-ont for them ; in fact, they certainly are reduced to a very great state of abjectness, not respecting themselves, and looked down upon by every one of their fellow-men: and I respectfully beg to question whether considering them too low and abject to be taxed is uot a fair reason with a savage and simple people like these for them to form so low an opinion of themselves that, without any self-respect, they degenerate into a species little better than those who reain our forests. They are well aware that all their neighbours are taxed, and from conversation I had with one or two who spoke Burmese, I was led to come to the above conclusion, which I now have the honour of submitting to you. On one of the islands near Mergui are a few families of these people who have taken to cultivation. I have not as yet had tine to visit them, as they are at some distance out at sea. The taxation I would recommend would be exactly the same as is levied on the other tribes of Burmese and Karens.
"I would, while on this subject, draw your attention to the following extract of a letter from Mr. Kincaid, an American Missionary, who visited these people in 1838, now 20 years ago. He says:- They (the Salones) are very poor too, having no houses, no gardens, no cultivated fields, nor any domestic animals but dogs. I never saw such abject poverty, such an entire destitution of all the comforts of life. Thas wrote one who had seen and visited them 20 years ago, and so one would write of them to this day. Since 1838 some attempt was made by Major Broadfoot, Commissioner, by means of Mr. Brayton, an American Missionary, to teach them to read and write and convert them to Christianity. Mr. Brayton, I believe, baptised forty-six, and also established a school among them in 1846, but, owing to his going away, the school was abandoned, and, from what I can learn, nothing has since been done for them."
From the little that I know of these people, I am very much inclined to think that Lieutenant Burn's proposition will bear examination. I am aware that the people have a good market for the products he enumerates.
You are aware that it is a tedious and even difficult task to go about their islands with merely an ordinary canoe, such as we have at our disposal here. A small steamer I have long thought absolutely necessary to enable this district officer to supervise his officinis properly, and generally administrate affairs with any approach to efficient management.
I took the liberty of submitting this proposition upwards of two years ago, on my first appointment here. It has been strongly supported by my successors, and received the notice of Government. Lieutenant Barn, who had the opportunity of seeing this district throughout two working seasons, has, you will observe, referred to it in his remarks on the Salone Islands.
уІІ. From H. O. Menzies, Esq., Deputy Commissioner, Mergui, to the Commissioner, Terasserim
and Martaban Provinces, Moulmcis - dated the 20th June 1860. In the preparation of the annual revenue and statistical returns, which it was my duty tu submit to you at the close of the official year 1859-60, I was struck by the inadequacy of the data at my disposal on which I had, in the case of the Salones, to found these returns.
1 The passage referred to by Lieutenant Burn is to be found in Macon's Tonassurim.
