mat, and a small bundle of old clothes full of patches.
Thousands of these persons go yearly also to Siam and
the Straits o f Malacca.
Jan. 30.—Nothing was heard of the business o f the Mission
down to this time, nor indeed did the members expect
to g e t any account o f it until the holidays were over. This
was the last day of the Cochin Chinese year, and the shops
being only open in the morning, the people were busy in
laying in provisions for the next four days, when there
would be no market. Before every house there was erected
a tall rod, on which was suspended betel and tobacco,
as an offering to the gods.
Jan. 81.— Th is was the first day o f the year. T he people
left off all manner of work, and tricked themselves out
in their gala-dresses, going from house to house to visit
each other. A t every house was laid out a small table,
containing sweatmeats and a lighted taper, which was an
offering to the memory o f their ancestors. The people, o f
all ages and descriptions, were seen gaming in every part
o f the town ; and day and night were heard squibs, crackers,
and other descriptions o f fire-works. On the seventh
o f the moon, those who can afford it visit their nearest
friends and relations and make them presents. In the
evening, the tall staff, with the offering o f betel and tobacco,
is struck. Th e table with the offering to ancestors
is also uncovered, and the contents distributed amongst the
nearest elderly relations o f the party. Before this is done,
however, the inmates o f the house and all the visitors prostrate
themselves before it. T h e Cochin Chinese eat of
every description o f animal food, without distinction, and
do not object to dogs, cats, rats, alligators, &e.
Feb. 13.-—W e were informed, through different channels,
that an orjler had arrived from the Court to prepare a vessel
to carry us back to Ava.
Feb. 14.— To-day the arrival o f Ong-Tan-Hiep, the Secretary,
with a dispatch from the Court, was announced to
the Mission. H e came overland in twelve days. W e now
got some information regarding our own particular business.
Feb. 18.— This was the seventeenth day o f the moon,
and the termination o f the holidays.- A salute o f three
guns was fired from the rampart o f the fort, which was followed
by a discharge of muskets and crackers from the
houses o f the town. The whole troops were drawn out,
and, with drums beating, and colours flying, they marched
with much ceremony round the glacis of the fort. After
this they proceeded to the river-side, where three galleys
were lying prepared, from which salutes were fired, and returned
with a discharge o f muskets as before. The galleys
then sailed about thè river in procession, accompanied by a
great number of small boats, ornamented with little flags,
banners, lanterns, and spears.
About seven o’clock in the morning, a royal order from
the King was conveyed from the house of Ong-Tan-Hiep
to the Governor’s in the fort with much ceremony, on a
gilt stage ; six elephants followed in procession, and many
o f the principal Mandarins attended. The new Governor
appeared in a splendid military dress, having the emblem
o f a lion on his robe. As far as concerned the interests o f
the Burman Mission, we learned that three Mandarins and
a Secretary, with seventy persons as an escort, were directed
to accompany us back to Ava. The names of these
Mandarins were, Ong-Kin, Ong-Kian, Bie Voung, and the
Secretary Ong-Tri-Bohe. Ong-Kin was by descent a Chinese
; his father was the chief o f a gang o f Chinese pirates
who assisted the late King in reconquering his country.
H e entered into the King’s service at Pulo Condore, and
was created commodore o f the pirate fleet, which he had
brought from the coast of China. These people, when the