Abstract
AT the meeting of the Geographical Society on Monday last, Major J. E. Sandeman, B. S.C., read a paper on recent explorations of the sources of the Irawaddy. He referred first to Mr. R. Gordon's able report on the hydrology and hydrography of the river, in which the old theory of the Saupo, or great river of Tibet, being the main source of its vast stream, is revived, and then to what has lately been done, showing that.the Saupo more probably unites with the Kihong. Major Sandeman next dealt with some endeavours to reach the source of the Irawaddy, more especially that made by a Burman named Alaga, who had been trained by himself. This man started from Bhamo in October 1879, and was absent six months. He brought back a good deal of information respecting the western and eastern branches of the Irawady, but we cannot see how he can be said to have explored their sources. It was somewhat unsatisfactory to learn that “political considerations”—the old Indian bugbear—prevented Major Sandeman from stating why the explorer was compelled to turn back before doing what he was sent to do. Though the geographical results of Alaga's journey are not what might have been expected, he has brought back some very interesting information regarding the domestic habits, religious customs, &c., more particularly of the Kachins, or Kakbyens. In concluding his paper Major Sandeman summed up the various attempts which have heen made to reach the sources of the Irawaddy, and to discover the true outlet of the Saupo.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Geographical Notes . Nature 25, 421–422 (1882). https://doi.org/10.1038/025421b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/025421b0