( 30 ) 



adopted, excepting by visitors from British territory, where the 

 better educated and more respectable classes have already com- 

 menced to show an aversion to the famine* and open lawn coats, 

 though they are undoubtedly the natural costume of the country. 

 The loongyee evidently has been introduced from Moulmein, where 

 it was, perhaps, borrowed from the Malayan Peninsula. 



52. The last of my things had just been carefully packed away, 



when I received a note from the 



Ke5dSft ati0n t0 PUt UP ™ th ^ Eesiclent ' Captain Strover, asking 



me to stay with him, and saying he 

 had sent a pony for me, and the requisite orders to pass my kit 

 through the custom-house. I was fortunate at this time in 

 forming the acquaintance of two gentlemen, residents of Man- 

 dalay, who had come on a visit to the Commander of the 

 Ashley Eden. They very kindly volunteered to show me the 

 way up to town, and seemed somewhat curious to know the 

 exact nature of my mission. I was only too glad to avail 

 myself of their offer ; for though independent of a guide, 

 Captain Strover's syce knowing the way, yet this offered a good 

 opportunity of getting the numerous questions answered, that would 

 naturally suggest themselves to a new-comer. It is not improbable 

 that a little fiction was added to truth when the different objects 

 that attracted attention were being described. I think however, 

 I was able to sift the wheat from the chaff without much trouble, 

 for my companions did not seem inclined to charge me with those 

 abominable misrepresentations, which often mislead new-comers to 

 a place, and result in the inaccuracies appearing in print which do 

 so much mischief. 



53. The Residency is about three miles from where the steamers 



anchor at this season. The line we 

 mat transpired dimngride from too k \ e & across an open uninteresting 



landing-place to the Residency. ., - . ,, * ., -,.° 



country, the bridle-path meandering 

 through paddy-fields, until, just before reaching the suburbs, an 

 unbridged stream delayed us a little, while I had a slight 



* The tamine differs from the loongyee in that it is worn open in front, and consists of 

 three separate pieces. It is worn in a manner to expose the shoulders and arms, hut sufficiently 

 long to trail on the ground ; the entire width is three cubits : each piece, which goes to make- up 

 the whole, varies in price, pattern, colour, and name. The centre portion, however, is what 

 regulates the value, and varies from Es. 5 to Ks. 200, according to the pattern, which is often 

 most elaborate and brilliant — the gaudy red and serpentine designs being the most costly. The 

 three pieces are the ak-htasin, the tumain-go, and the tumain-nah — eacb being one cubit wide. 

 The first is generally of some common red or dark cotton stuff, a preference being given to the 

 latter ; the second is tbat already described, while the third generally consists of some cheaper silk 

 in coloured stripes. The whole are sown together and lined with a piece of white long cloth. 

 The putso is an article entirely of male attire : it extends from the waist to a little below the 

 knees, and the entire length is about twelve feet ; the superfluous material is either worn in a pinch 

 of gathers in front or thrown over the shoulder in a neglige manner. The system of fastening is 

 most insecure, and necessitates an everlasting process of tyiug and re-adjusting. 



