14 Narrative of the Proceedings and Scientijic 



Burmese Court, but above all, to afford the court an oppor- 

 tunity of displaying it. 



At that place the whole court, with the exception of his 

 majesty, passed in review before us, beginning with the officers 

 of lowest rank, and ending with the princes of the blood. The 

 courtiers were in their dresses of ceremony, and each chief 

 was accompanied by a numerous retinue, besides elephants 

 and horses. The retainers of Menzagyi, the queen's brother, 

 the most powerful chief about the court, could not have been 

 fewer than three hundred. 



We were at length summoned into the royal presence. The 

 etiquette insisted upon with Colonel Symes seemed not to have 

 escaped the recollection of the Burman officers, and they 

 would have had us to practice the same ceremonies he had 

 been necessitated to submit to, but times had changed. These 

 ceremonies consisted in making repeated obeisances to the 

 walls of the palace, and in walking bare footed, or at least 

 without shoes, across the court-yard. All this we peremp- 

 torily refused, although the officers who led the procession 

 showed us a very good example in prostrating themselves re- 

 peatedly, by throwing their bodies prone upon the bare 

 ground. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs leading to 

 the hall of audience we voluntarily took off our shoes, passed 

 through the long hall, and seated ourselves in front of the 

 throne. His majesty did not keep us long waiting. After a 

 hymn had been chaunted by a band of Bramins in white, he 

 made his appearance upon the opening of a folding-door be- 

 hind the throne, and mounted the steps which led to the lat- 

 ter briskly. He was in his richest dress of state — wore a 

 crown, and held in his hand the tail of a Thibet cow, which is 

 one of the Burman regalia, and takes the place of a sceptre. 



He was no sooner seated than her majesty, who, whether 

 on public or private occasions, is inseparable from him, pre- 

 sented herself in a dress equally rich with his, and more fan- 

 tastic. Both had on a load of rich jewels. She seated her- 

 self on his majesty's right hand. She was immediately fol- 

 lowed by the little princess, their only child, a girl about five 

 years of age. Upon the appearance of the king and queen 

 the courtiers humbly prostrated themselves. The English 



