following day we had advanced so little'to the northward, that Narcondam
was still in sight. Abo.ut noon, we discovered two ships and ar schooner,,
.standing to: the south-east: they hoisted English colours, and we kept-our
course. On the 13th the.wind veered to the southward, and became
fair: on the 16th we found ourselves, by a meridian observation, nearly
.in the latitude of the roads of Rangoon, but by our reckoning and timepiece
to«frr.to the eastward: after peering west some hours, we anchored
fm- rhp night in five.- fathoms, and plainly perceived l ig h t s ,^ thefbe^sh.
mnmmg wfl di.ytnvere.d low land, aboift: si* mites to the^ north-west.
Here we remained till the ISth, waiting for. a pilot, standing oft" and,,on
with sbort tacks ip the day time, and at anchor during the night. Finding
that our signals, by firing guns and hfdating colqur&in the usual manner,
were not answered, Mr. Palmer, the second officer, wa» sent in the pinnace,
with instructions to proceed up the river as far as Rangoon,, in case
be-did not ftfti a p il^ sooner. _QM h t ensuing dayj the wted-’-feeteg
moderate and Mr, Captain Thomas ventured to stand in ; and steering by
land-marks-, and sending a boat a-head, crossed- the bar without a pilot, at
half flood, in four fathoms- At twelve o’clock; we entered the Rangoon
river ; the land on each side appeared low afid swampy, and the banks
skirted with high reeds and brushwood. Four miles within the extremes
we came abreast of a small village, whence a boat rowed towards u s : i t
proved; to be a watch boat, stationed at the mouth of the: rivers. to send
intelligence of the arrival of vessels to the nearest guard, whence it is forwarded
to the Governor of Rangoon. The Birman office* that came on
hoard was a mean looking man, dressed in a shabby cotton jacket, and a
piece of faded silk, which, after twice encircling his waist, was passed:
loosely between his legs and listened behind, covering the thighs about'
half way to the knees. * This: personage,, in r h is j own opinion pftijio insignifi-;
cant consequence! sat down bn a chain? wathnutithe smallest jE^rempny* and
called in an authoritative tdne. for his;/implemehts'ofi'writing,(which were
produced by/cfne of thrde. attendants that-accompanied him. These, when,
their'mastet was?,seated, squattedoupnn their; heels-,on* the Ideck-before
bisirehaw^Mtairijte only to his commands, in ,an- jattifcudevand mahner
tM^'ttnuA;:res^iblihg i kaboonSv-rithoiigb they were well »proportioned
stoo^jmem. ; The (ffikterinqmiigd, ihn broken Poituguczc, the name of
theSslgpplvdierice-sslib nimel-what arias land1 dmHiunkion board,*
andctM^Une'iififiMjEomniandeEi Lbeiing satisfied in-thehe points,Yhe-gare-.
fullyixib^ Hearing that we vyeie'mot, provided'
with a pilot, Bft des ired the captain to'come to anl.^achoriitill
psosna-edf. as, dri :case -of -^aosadent happening* hepflyduld -be- -held'
responsible ib* per^iida*^ us,to.'proceed. Fust.-then, Mr. Palmerrdnjthe
sffipiS boat made his appearance. H e had been tOiRangofiaoi, [and .brought-
down a pilot with btannute-pautiMis visitor .ofteied no farther p^eptions,
bititeok his teahe<witteas ftriejeeremonjeas he had entered..
About two acfebk. a small -boat from Rangoon; nset the-fship:, a. mail in>
it 'MiiMiOinfd»ffi^to:;ishe MagtogeufidimM^anjcaiidid^iredffiimvtiar cast
anchor, as sit was the intention of the Governor of Rangoon Aoreonle down
and receive' the- British depufedc® inupeaisoti.: W e ia a atediatdh^cofea^^ft
with his tdesire-:- - | *
The place where we brought tOj is twelve
entrance of the river, «aid #hb banks cm each jsidei,'4'9rdia near resemblance
* ^ ew e r e not yet aware that a sitting posture isrthe most respectmhamojjglhe Birmans;
and on this occasion were inclined to attribute to insolence', wM t,ifit na^ any’m&ingj
was in fact a mark of deference.