150 in., the humidity rarely falls below 75 per cent saturation, and the average maximum temperature for the same period is about 90 F.

But the fine winters and superb views of the mountains, glazed with snow, are some compensation for the many dis­comforts of the rainy season.

The rain-washed air is clear as crystal and the mountains looked very close. Away to the west, the ranges which separate the Mali Hka from the Dihang, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, rise abruptly from the edge of the plain, so near that they mask the 12,000 foot peaks just behind them.

Further north, the Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwady-Brahmaputra divide grows higher, Noi Madive, a peak almost due north and 30 miles distant, rising to over 15,000 feet; and another 30 miles north of  Noi Madive is the Diphuk Pass, one of three or four passes over the Irrawaddy-or Ayeyarwady Lohit divide in 120 miles. Ten miles north-cast of the Diphuk Pass is the snow peak Ka Karpo Razi, 19,269 feet, the highest mountain in Myanmar and south-east Asia;

A little south of the Shingrup Hkyet (pass) over the main range can be seen. In winter these mountains appear as a wide arc of snow.

But in July it gets very hot with a terrific thunderstorms over the hills. As rivers go in south-east Asia, and particularly as compared with the rivers on either side of it, namely the Brahmaputra to the west, the Salween and Mekong to the east, the Irrawaddy is a rather small, or at least a short river. It is barely 1500 miles in length, whereas the Brahmaputra is over 2500 miles, the Mekong about the same and the Salween not less than 2000 miles.

The snow in the Myanmar Himalayas chills the air flowing in from the plains and from the sea and adds still more rain and snow. In the mountains heavy precipitation is frequent, long before the monsoon breaks in central Myanmar.

In the Myanmar Himalayas large snow patches lying unmelted throughout the summer, while above 15,000 feet there is many permanent snow, the last remnants of glaciers which once covered almost the whole of the country north of latitude 26°. These snow patches are no longer considered as glaciers only because they have so far shrunk that the weight of snow is not sufficient to form ice. But though motionless, they are relatively as permanent as glaciers.

There is a more curious reason for the persistence of snow beds at low altitudes, sometimes so low as 10,000 feet, throughout the summer, in the Myanmar Himalayas.

The mountains at the headwaters of the Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwady are exceedingly steep, alpine valleys like the Scinghku and its tributaries exceedingly narrow and deep. As a result, quite early in the year, the snow begins to avalanche down their sides and pile up in immense mounds, blocking the streams, which presently tunnel beneath the beds. Some of these avalanche beds cover several acres, and sunk deep in the ravines never get an hour's sunshine. Further protection is afforded by a layer of earth and stones, dust and vegetable debris which rapidly accumulates over the surface, some of it washed down the alluvial fans, but much of it blown by the wind; eventually it may reach a thickness of several inches.

The peaks around Mt. Hkakabo Razi are not the only snow peaks in northern Myanmar. The whole length of the Salween ­Irrawaddy divide for some 200 miles north of latitude 26° is sprinkled with snow peaks. Many small glaciers amongst which its four major streams rise.

This then seems to be the true explanation of the great summer rise of the Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwady: heavy precipitation in the mountains throughout the year, together with a locking up of a vast quantity of water during half the year.

Exactly why northern Myanmar gets so much rain and snow, especially during the winter mon­th, is not very clear; but we must remember that this region is not very remote from the sea. Putao is about 600 miles away of the Bay of Bengal, within 1000 miles of the Gulf of  Thailand and within 700 miles of the Gulf of Tongking. If we take Putao as centre, and with a thousand-mile radius describe an arc from the east coast of India to the south coast of China, it will include nearly half the Bay of Bengal and the entire Gulf of Tongking, just touching the Gulf of Thailand a sea area larger than the whole of Myanmar.

In no other region in the world is perpetual turbulence and a continuous passing of great air currents more likely than over the network of deep sub-tropical valleys and snow-covered peaks of the Myanmar Himalayas; and the peculiar formation of the country itself contributes to their birth, maintenance and evolution. It is possible that owing to the continuous destruction of forest by the hill tribes and recently by Chinese poachers with big money to destribute , with consequent loss of soil, quicker run off, and lack of roots to take up water, the Irrawaddy is gradually rising to greater flood heights in less time than formerly.

As for the snow line in the Myanmar Himalayas, the glaciers have long been in retreat, and would appear to be still retreating, while the 'permanent' snow beds may be decreasing in size. If there is a general amelioration of climate, whether due to warming up or to a smaller precipitation, the snow line will rise and snow melt be reduced.

The Hkamti plain is dotted with a number of small Shan villages each with its rice fields. The largest is Putao itself, here and there, sometimes from the midst of the paddy fields, clusters of crumbling pagodas rise., and there are unpretentious monasteries in the villages where a few yellow-robed monks with shorn pates perform the rites of the Buddhist religion. The sweet tones of the gongs ring out across the plain at all hours. Three distinct types of vegetation are met with, namely, forest, occupying the terraces and drier ground; swamp, covering much of the plain to the north too; The forest is composed of the same trees met with at similar altitudes -- up to 3000 feet, more or less. There are stretches of magnificent forest to the east, between Putao and the Mali Hka, which bounds the plain on that side. Near villages, much of it has been reduced to a dense growth of scrub and fern by cutting for fire­wood. Amongst a great variety of trees are Quercus semiserrala, Altingia excelsa, Pterospermum (P. semisaggitalum), Sarcinia, Magnolia, various Laurels, figs, Elaeocarpus, Sterculia and a tree with narrow oblong leaves over a foot in length, probably a species of Goniothalamus. Wide stretches of artificial sward occur near Putao and else­where on the banks of the many small streams which wriggle across the plain. A small crimson flowered orchid (Spiranthes) and a creeping Lysimachia with golden-yellow flowers, very like the British L. Nummularia or money-wort, grow in the turf. A variety of plants grow in the villages and in Shan gardens, many of them flowering gaily in the cold weather. Very striking then are the hedges of sunflower..

 
The people in the valleys catch fish in thorn-lined conical fish traps, with nets or harpoon. They also eat barking deer, gooral, serow, pheasants and monkeys. When these food sources are scarce, the valley population will eat anything from snails and frogs, to lizards, snakes and wasp grubs.

Myanmar Himalaya Trekking

Cold weather mist hangs over the peaceful and serene surroundings almost 6 months of the year. Flowing streams and rivulets, straw-roofed houses and fences of pebbles and creek stones provide a pleasant, pastoral contrast to the scenes and sights of Yangon.

Peoples of the Rawan, Lisu, Khamti-Shan, Jingphaw and Kachin are represented in the region. Simple, direct, hard working and hospitable, they make a living in the lower areas by growing paddy, fruits, roots and medical plants. Grape fruit, American lime, Washington navel fruit, varieties of peaches and oranges grow.

Ginseng and musk are plentiful. Many species of orchid and other exotic flora and fauna such as musk deer, takin and flying squirrel are native to this region.

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