( 35 ) 



parried by a retinue of followers, and sheltered from the sun by 

 umbrella-bearers, I cannot say ; but, had my feelings been consult 

 ed, I would have much perferred covering the ground with the 

 least possible delay. However, as all was new to me, the solemn 

 pace observed afforded a better opportunity of noting the various 

 matters of interest that presented themselves as we went along. 

 I was immensely amused at the futile attempts made by the um- 

 brella-bearers to fulfil their office satisfactorily, for the heads of the 

 umbrellas, which were of huge dimension's, supported on handles 

 ten feet long, were constantly coming in contact, much to the an- 

 noyance of our ponies, which frisked about and cannoned up against 

 one another, leaving us for the better part of the ride exposed to 

 the direct rays of the sun. 



63. The city of Mandalay is enclosed by a brick wall about fifteen 



feet high, with a battlemented parapet, 

 Mandalay city briefly described, the whole being enclosed by a deep 



Also public reception-room in the , . , .° , . , , h ? 



palace. and wide moat, which contains water 



throughout the year. We entered by 

 the west gate, which is surmounted by a seven-tiered roofed pavi- 

 lion of the same class of architecture as is observed in the monas- 

 teries and other Buddhistic buildings. This led through the prin- 

 cipal street to the eastern gate of the palace, which occupies the 

 centre of the city, and is surrounded by a high palisade of stout 

 teak posts. Here we dismounted and parted with our umbrellas. 

 The Resident, however, was still canopied by what resembled an 

 umbrella without a handle, carried by one of the King's officials, 

 who met us at the gate. This honour was not extended to me I am 

 glad to say, or I should have been compelled to be more dignified 

 in my gait, and stared less about me. We were first conducted to a 

 pavilion with an entirely open frontage, evidently a sort of public 

 reception-room, where petitions are also received, and after peru- 

 sal by the Ministers passed on to the officers to whose depart- 

 ment they appertain. That portion of the hall occupied by the 

 Ministers and shared by ourselves was nicely carpeted, and huge 

 cushions provided for the convenience of the former; all others 

 were squatted on the bare floor, petitioners and applicants being 

 in the rear of the court officials, who presented a motley lot, 

 differing notably in age, size, colour, degrees of cleanliness, and 

 general deportment. 



64. Now commenced the unbooting process ; but having quite 

 „,, , ,. forgotten that this barbarous practice 



The unbooting process. ° „ , . , , , t j. • 



was enforced in the palace, 1 went m 

 a pair of laced boots, which rather threw me out of time when visit- 

 ing the different officials, before appearing before His Majesty : I 



