( 84 ) 



satisfied with their condition, but unanimously protested against 

 the aots of extortion committed by income-tax collectors, who, in 

 their demands, doubled the original burden, which, in the first 

 instance, was very fairly regulated according to the position of the 

 rate-payer. 



157. According to arrangements already made, Mr. C. very 



__ . , . ., , „ ,„ Id i idly accompanied me on an official 



Official visit to the Woon. ^^ ^ ^ QQn ^^ ^ ^j 



complimentary salutation, I handed in His Majesty's passport, 

 granting me permission to travel through the Bhamo district, and 

 directing I should receive all assistance necessary. The order 

 whs written on a palm leaf (corypha talina) with a style, formed 

 into a hoop, and enveloped in a second leaf, the ends of which 

 were secured by a piece of old red cloth, and stamped with the 

 arms which arc represented by the peacock. The seal was broken 

 in our presenoe, and the order read aloud by the senior secretary, in 

 the usual chanting tone ; the document was then returned to the 

 Governor, who very politely consented to afford me every assistance 

 in his power immediately I would give him a definite outline of my 

 plans, which I agreed to do in the course of a few days, after talking 

 the matter over with the Assistant Resident. Unfortunately both 

 Mr. C. and myself were dependent on interpreters, which made the 

 interview less interesting and instructive, than doubtless would have 

 been the case, had we been able to exchange our views direct. The 

 Governor was notably gentlemanly in his behaviour, though reserv- 

 ed and cautious in his own conversation. He shook hands with 

 us both on entering and leaving, and seemed in no way put out at our 

 entering with our shoes, though they were hardly in a state to tread 

 his nicely-carpeted floor after our walk through the town, which 

 was ankle deep in dust. The reception hall was merely a portion 

 of his privato apartment curtained off, the floor being raised about 

 eighteen inches higher than that on which petitioners are allowed ; 

 on our side was a stand of arms, among which I noticed two double- 

 barrelled breach-loaders, six double-barrelled percussion rifles, 

 and nine old Brown-Besses with bayonets : these were all tolerably 

 clean, but the array of arms that stood in the covered square front- 

 ing us, appeared rust-eaten and neglected. 



The whole six Court officials were present at the interview, 

 but never spoke, excepting to confirm the Governor's views or to 

 whisper a suggestion in matters that had escaped his memory. 

 I am told the officers are, as a rule, appointed by the King, 

 and that they change office on the transfer of a Governor. No 

 state documents either, I believe, are considered valid unless 



