§ecqpï wife/ Myai&l^ffiaifefajby whom he has tjyqsons the Engy,3Çeg£ei|it*
OfjIlj^ce^Qyalfi,and. Pèe ^ËefeB^jQ^rPrinc^oM^amÆ.. The ppin.ces of
T ongho, Bgssipn, and Pagahm, arexhy feyqunte, concubines. MeecJahPraw
©fjhigh dig^ity^anthjnyth^rjgf thfi|cjbie£ gu^njv3Bh& princej
royàl, is married, and hasra son and twm daughters, all young ; jthejson;
takes prqçqdeppç^pf his uncles, the crown descending to the male„heir§.
in g;jdirgcti lin(Gi,;o; These were the principal -.perspnages e f the Birman
rcyalifanHly.' •
, Next in rank to^the princes of -the, blood royal are the V^ogngge^t p y
chief ministers of state. J The established number is four, but the plapepf
hSS te s fong been vacant: these fomMhg; gieat
nation ; they, sit ig^ the Lptoo, or impeyial h a ll'.o .i^ ^ ^ ^ a ti^ y ’^ M & i ^ ^
except on the Birman sabbath, from twelve till three or four o’clock, or
later, as there happens to be business ; they issue mandates to the May-
woons, Or viceroys of the different provinces ; they control' every department
of the state, and, in fact, govern the empire, subject always to the
pleasure of the King, whose will is absolute, and power undefined.
To assist in the administration of affairs, four officers, < ailed Woondocks,
are associated with the Woongees, but of far inferior authority ; they sit in
the Lotoo, in a deliberative capacity, having no vote ;, they give their opinions,
andSpiay record .their dissent from any measure that is proposed,
but the Woongees. decide : the Woondocks, however, are frequently employed
to carry info execution business of great public importance.
Four Attawoons, or ministers of the interior, possess a degree of in-
* Often called Engy Praw.
t Woon signifies burthen ; the compound word implies, Bearer of the Great Burthen.