Major Burney on the Lacquered-Ware of Ava. 441 
varnish has been applied, and it is thoroughly dry, figures, lines, &c. are 
described, ‘by the lacquered ware being scooped or scratched, just deep 
enough to remove two or three coats of the varnish, with rude steel tools, “)) 
either sharp-pointed, or having the point slightly divided. The latter 
instrument is called ¢sowt ; @) it is used like a gouge, and guided by the 
thumb of the left hand, whilst the right is scooping out the lines. The 
former instrument, called gouk, @) is often nothing more than a broken 
needle tied to the end of a small piece of stick; and it is used to describe 
the circular lines, the lacquered-ware being turned round with the help of 
the knees and left hand against the instrument held steadily in the right 
hand. It is surprising how quickly the workmen use these rude gravers, 
which are sharpened with a piece of slate usually brought from Shwe-zet-dau 
on the road to Arracan, and called Shwe-zet-tau-kyouk. While sharpen- 
ing, the instrument is held against the forefinger of the left hand, and the 
slate, moistened with a little spittle, is rubbed against it. The edge also of 
the slate on one side is made fine for the purpose of being rubbed within 
the divided point of the ¢sowt. When the figures and ornaments are 
finished, a coat of vermilion and ¢heet-tsee is put over the whole surface of 
the ware, and allowed some days to dry. The ware is then placed on the 
lathe, and turned round against some wet bran pressed down upon it with 
the left hand, and occasionally washed in water. This process rubs off all 
the vermilion from those parts which are in relief. A second and a third 
coat of vermilion is applied, and partially removed in the same manner. It 
is then placed in the sun for a few minutes, and when perfectly dry, a coat 
of the semi-transparent mixture before described is put on, rubbed off with 
a piece of cloth, and a second coat put on, which is allowed some days to 
dry, for the Shan oil always takes a long time to harden. ‘This kind of’ 
engraving is the most tedious and expensive, and it is called Shan Yowon t,ho, 
the Shan Yowon engraving, from the circumstance of all Shan boxes being 
so ornamented. The ¢sout or gouk, somewhat in the manner of our wood 
engraving, scoops or cuts all the surface except the figures and ornaments 
required, which remain black, the colour of the original ground; whilst 
those parts only where the gravers have made the hollows or incisions are 
afterwards filled up with red. The Shan Yowon, though executed by Bur- 
mese workmen, can never be made to look so well as that done in the Shan 
countries, owing either to the ¢heet-tsee not being so fresh aud pure, as the 
workmen allege, or to the Skans making use of some other materials unknown 
