customary presents. I observed in answer, that I had no* objection to paying
these ministers a mark of attention by the trifling present which »usage
had established ; but to wait on them at their hbuses, unless I received an
assurance that my visit would be returned, was a ceremony I begged leave
to decline. Tlnsmtimation I imagine was rather a disappointment to,
them, - as much pains were taken to induce me to alter my resolution. I
however refosed to concede, but I offered to meet them at the house of the
Maywoon of Pegue, a proposal from which they dissented, remarking,:
that to visit me, would be more eligible than to go to the Maywoon';s.house.:
I replied that our formalities were not less strict than theirs, and that I
could no more relinquish my claimjo the respect due to myqmblic- station^
than they could descend from their elevation,; and saw no remedy f t e l
less they themselves chose to apply that, which was in them o.wn power,;
and winch they must be sensible I had a right to require. Finding that
I was not inclined to yield, they requested, if I could noèvisita.them in I
person, that I would allow the other gentlemen to pay them theicompli^
ment; a desire to which I readily acceded, as well from atwishto open-ja; 1
channel of communication, as to manifest on my p art a conciliatory,djspo-'I
sition. Mr. Wood and Dofctor Buchanan obligingly- inade
I therefore answered that the gentlemen would wait on themr.an^x-pressechl
my regret that I was deprived of the same pleasure.
During this interval of rest the Governor of Bamoo frequently favoured-!
me with a visit, his business bringing him almost daily to the residencerf.
the Chinese. By his desire, I sent
a piece of coarse white muslin, which, it seems, is the etiquette on such:
occasions. On one of these days the Bamoo Governor*brought with him
thé chart of Ms journey to Pekin, as he had formerly promised ; it was;
delineated in a-iCuriousmiahner^ijylar^^iofihlaclQjg^per f ominflnfy used by
.the Birmans* on which* t h e y , ,gr soapstone.
The places were dialii^fely ^ a ^ g d , j bi^not,jfriyj.pgi ajnv s^ale, ,thet
’measurement;was-extremely cqr^sa^,»^^Oj:|lis^opp,rtip^atej|th a t it was
-impossiblettrudge of*distances W iijamld
- however, trace hi% p^ogrp^^jjr§gigh^th9Chi5Rn^p^dp^nj^>inns"1in^the Jesujts
map that is,prefixed,)to du?>Halde’.k..a6&oiii^^frtShina...
On the day appointed, .for,oji), ‘Whly-jfiljg^jctjaiWj^wer took bp,at at
seven in themomins. andjrtuitn^ediikv^uaiusjjal retinue, crossed the lake;
?qne of the surviving.Glfrnese al^^ce@p]Mnipdtiy ^ B {ibldjMic^i^hqShaw-
bunder of Rangoon, and^s.ome Birrnaii pj!ic(^--,-^^,us.(nLt/^9PPphte*bdrik,
.wherepur elephants.wergw^itjrg..^X;hi.n we.M.ppiuadiul tliUuausew,lv o#,
biidgc, instead'ofKrossing it.^vc^urpL^Hidid left, .uul pipeettkd tlos^to
the' ditch, parallel with the- wesl.laco ol.the for^.tilj.w^camp
sWesfrangle. At this place.the .riv&iaapL&maches-'Sa.near^Mhe vyalls _aa to
render ajeoirtinuation pfuth9tdftchjihi,pKf!,t4i,abl,4; -w^fhent^ h W o ^ t h e
i-noitksidp,{passing on our Idt a hanefsomp hpum, crewncd widia gilded
.piasath or, spire, which we were told| ha^hdiri^ercctctl ,by \lc u h w ^ ^w f -
the wierable lady whom we bad visited.,, O n p iriy i^ a t^ j^m u td ip a s t
corner, we obseived at some dystaace.on thpplain, ariof h,u; i digious tdilice
^ d is tin g u ish ed splendor, it. was dignified by,the title,a>f*Kioumdogee, | ot;
rdyal-.Gonvent, where we were informed that die Seredaw(or Uh|gf priest* intended
to receive us, and not at his usual residence, i^hich was at a Kioum
-about two miles forther. • The articles I designed Jfepnesentj tq liim, fiaviqg'
been sent forward to his customary abode,.-we were obliged to wai&l^ an
adjoining house until they could be brought back., .Being prepared, we
were conducted into a spacious coup, purrpimdpd by a high brick wall,