misrepresentation.«$J»he Birmans, sensible-of the =advantages of commerce,
but inexpert incthe-praetiee,',. desirous to wimproxfej feut 'unacquainted with
the principles of trade, had of late^y.ears given «Slesation to all sects,
and invited strangers .t^eyeoy ration jtoKr'esbrtt-do their ports ; and-being;.
themselvesiftfrie-lfrom those prejudices of- cast, .which shackle thfeir Indian
iSSghbOBirs, .they1 permitted .-foreigners to -intermarry,- and (Sptjde-amwgstJj
thetastr But their «?auntry-hadtbeen so'i.iniuc'h- ttiapassed -by yvarSystyitb-
neighbouring nations, and torn by revolts and domestic dissensions, that
trade*kasfiequeatly interrupted, aftd sometimes-entirely stopped ;.qpropq$y
rendered insecure; and oveni'the .personal'safety rofc SGtt^rsf.eqdangere/i.
During'the short intervals of tranquillity,iobscOreadveBturers, and Outcasts
from all countries ?ofs fheeast, hadfloeked to Rangoon, whfiSd.thoy were
received withhospitalityhya'liberal.nation'.i.amonglthese^Ae'dnd^sfefipUS;
few soomaequired wealth by means of their su p erb * knowledge. The
« &&&£ tfatf Armenians,«midi a small propo] lion lotfMussulmeq,- engi,ossqd
the firmest share of the trade of. Rangoon; and individuals from their nunw/
ber- were frequently selected by government to .fill employments -arf trust,
that related to trade, and transactions with foreigners, the duties ol which
the Birmans supposed that such persons could perform better than themselves.
Baba-Sheen, bom in .the Birman country, of Armenian parents,,
had obtained the high office he held by his skill in business,- and, his general,
knowledge. The descendant of;a Portuguese family; named Jaunsee, whose
origin was very low, - and who in the early part of his life had been
accused as an accessary to a piratical seizure of an English vessel, was
invested with the important office of Shawbunder or Attendant _of the port,
and receiver'of the port customs.. This man appeared to perform the duties-
of his station' with diligence. The town of Rangoon was -indebtedt-fohis;
activity of' its streets, for several well built wooden
bridges, and a wlmrf,- .which, .ex tending info the river, and raised on posts,
enabled the ships to deliver and receive cargoes I without the assistance of
river craft: under his direction also, a spaciousiShstom house had lately
been erected. This is the «mly lay, building in Rangoon that .is not constructed
of wood* .it, ds^'composed of brick and mOrtafe and the. roof
covered with tiles ; within» there;as® a. number o f 'wooden stages for the
reception o f hale goods.;: Notwithstanding - the respect which the energy,
of Jaunsee s character had;-obtained, the Birmans were b y no* means mseh?
sible of the meanness of his extrac tion : his want of education was a matter
of derision among them: although an inhabitant of the Birman country
near forty years, and a great part of the- time an officer o f government, he
cmdd neither read sfor write, and even Speke their language mtperfeetly,
We were unfortunate in his happening to be at Ava :at the time of our
arrival, whither he had gone to render up his annual accounts :h a d he
been on dhe spot, i t is probable he would feaver-obvia-tedt.^veral of th*
inconvenient at tending opt first introduction.
The character of Baha-jSheen was strikingly •contrasted wi$i that .of the
Shawbunder; he was a man of general knowledge» and deemed by. the
Barmans an accomplished scholar; he was better acquainted with the
history, .politics, and geography of Europe, than any Asiatic I ever con-;
versed with: his learning was universal, being slightly versed in almost
every science ; but his information, extensive as it was, although it gained
him employment, could not procure him confidence: he was said to...be
deficient lit other essential requisites.
Several private merchants -had also acquired influence in Rangoon.
Bawangee, a Parsee of considerable credit, had interest to procure a partial
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