( 83 ) 



pieces in various quarters of the town, while some are even still to 

 be seen on the river's bank, exactly in the same places where they 

 were first landed months ago. 



58. Such conservancy as there is, has originated in religious 



Conservancy arrangements and SCl'lipleS, the Only scavengers being 



Buddhist scruples. dogs and pigs, with which the place 



swarms, and whose lives are spared by order of the King. 

 The Buddhist creed forbids the taking of life, which act of huma- 

 nity etften results in the most revolting spectacles ; for though the 

 Burman Buddhist objects to take life, he does not hesitate to 

 commit the most cruel acts, and it is quite a common sight to see 

 dogs going about with sloughing sores, originally brought on by 

 a wound inflicted by an angry Burinan, whose impetuous disposi- 

 tion knows no bounds when once excited. Their nature seems a 

 strange mixture of cruelty and kindness : they delight in cock- 

 fighting, but would inconvenience themselves to assist a chicken in 

 distress. 



59. I reached the Residency about 10 a.m., and after breakfast 



Arrival at the Residency ; des- WaS & ™ the ? 00mS that had been 



cription of the building and Bui-- prepared for me, in an adjoining house, 



mese system of espionage. m the same compound. One wing of 



the building was occupied by Dr. Johnson, the Residency Surgeon 

 and myself, and the other by the Post-office and the Resident's 

 office, where also the mixed Court sits ; the centre hall was un- 

 occupied, and intended apparently for public receptions. This 

 building, as also many other of the European residences in Man- 

 dalay, is the property of the King, though, perhaps, the least signi- 

 ficant ; indeed, beyond the British flag which is hoisted on the roof- 

 top, there is nothing to stamp it with that air of importance due to 

 one of Her Majesty's representatives at a foreign court. The com- 

 pound is enclosed by a fence of teak training, with bamboo panel- 

 ling supported by teak posts. Both gates are guarded by Burmese 

 soldiers, who are supposed to report daily at the palace all matters 

 of importance that transpire at the Residency : but as Burmans 

 find a difficulty in drawing a line of distinction between important 

 and unimportant matters, the system resolves itself into one of 

 espionage, and soldiers rather represent a body of spies than a 

 guard of honour. This acts as a barrier to guests at the Residency 

 studying the habits and customs of the people, or, in fact, gaining 

 information of any description directly from them. 



60. When my baggage came up, I found the Custom-house 



Authorites had detained my guns, 

 Detention of fire-arms by Bur- although they were included in the 



mese Customs Authorities. .~ . -, ° . , , J . 1 -i • , 



Resident s clearing order, and it was 



5 



