114 ON THE CITY OF PEGUE, AND THE 



by a ftockade, from ten to twelve feet high. There 

 is one main ftreet, running eaft and weft, which is 

 interfered at right angles by two fmaller ftreets, not 

 yet finiihed. At each extremity of theprincipal ftreet 

 there is a gate in the ftockade, which is fhut early in 

 the evening. After that hour, entrance during the 

 night is confined to a wicket. Each of thefe gates is 

 defended by a forry piece of ordnance, and a few 

 mufqueteers, who never poft centinels, and are ufually 

 afleep. There are alfo two other gates on the north 

 r,nd fouth fides of the ftockade. 



The ftreets of Pegue are fpacious, as are the ftreets 

 in all Birman towns that I have feen. The road is 

 carefully made with brick, which the ruins of the old 

 town plentifully fupply. On each fide of the way there is 

 a drain, that ferves to carry off the water. The houfes 

 even of the meaneft peafants of Pegue, and through- 

 out all the Birman empire, pofTefs an advantage over 

 Indian dwellings, by being raifed from the ground 

 either on wooden pofts, or bamboos, according to the 

 fize of the building. The dwellings of the Rabaans, 

 or priefts, and higher ranks of people, are ufually 

 elevated eight or ten feet ; thofe of the lower clafTes 

 from two to four. 



The houfes of the inhabitants of Peoiieare far from 

 commodious, agreeably to European notions of accom- 

 modation; but I think they are at leaft as much fo as 

 the houfes of Indian towns. There are no brick build- 

 ings either in Pegue or Rangoon, except fuch as belong 

 to the King, or are dedicated to Gaudma. The King 

 has prohibited the ufe of brick or ftone in private 

 buildings, from the apprehenfion, I was informed, 

 that, if people got leave to build brick houfes, they 

 might erect brick fortifications, dangerous to the fe- 

 curity of the ftate. The houfes, therefore, are all 

 made of mats or (heathing-boards, fupported on bam- 

 boos or pofts. Being compofed of fuch combuftible 



materials, 





