172 Some Account of the Lacquered [May, 



the latter to three of the former, is used as a semi-transparent varnish. 

 When put over any other than black it darkens the colour a little, 

 but adds much to its brilliancy and transparency. The Burmese 

 possess no really transparent varnish, and it would be satisfactory to 

 know, if any could be obtained from the theet-tsee, by distillation 

 or other means. 



There are three descriptions of lacquered ware in Ava. The first, 

 and by far the best articles, are brought from the Shan countries — 

 Shan-pyee-ga ; and Le-gya, Dr. Buchanan's Laekhia, a Shan 

 province, situate to the S. E. of Ava, is the principal place of manufac- 

 ture. The Shan ware may be distinguished by the lightness and ele- 

 gance of the manufactures, and the superior brilliancy of the varnish 

 and colors. The next are those manufactured at a place called Nyoung- 

 oo*) and its neighbourhood, near the ancient capital, Pugan. These are 

 generally distinguished by their being of yellow or green colours ; and 

 almost all the small betel boxes, kwon-eet, in use among the Burmese, 

 are of this kind. The best of this kind are made at Pugan itself, and 

 called after that town, but the larger proportion is named from Nyoung- 

 oo. The last and worst description of articles is manufactured in the 

 city of Ava and its environs, and these are to be distinguished by the 

 coarseness of the work, its plain red colour, and the frame being gene- 

 rally of wood and not of basketrwork. Most of the plain red large 

 boxes with high conical covers, thamen tsaouk-gyee^ and other vessels 

 used by the Burmese for holding food, are of this description. The lac- 

 quered boxes from Laos have upon them tasteful figures and other orna- 

 ments of a beautiful black colour or of gold, and those from Nyoung-oo 9 

 have them of yellow or green colours. Many of these boxes are so thin 

 that you may discern the basket work through the varnish. The best 

 ware is tried by seeing whether the edges of two sides can be made to 

 meet without cracking the colour or breaking the article. I believe 

 none but a few Shan boxes will bear this test. 



The different figures and ornaments on the lacquered ware are ex- 

 ecuted in the following manner, called Yowon-tho, or engraving after 

 the manner of Yowon, which was the general term formerly applied by 

 the Burmese to Northern Laos and Zenmay, but which, and some- 



* Nyoung-oo means Fig-tree Point. The name of this place, where Lieut, John 

 North, one of our early envoys to Ava, died, and was buried on 30th August, 1755, 

 has been strangely used. Capt. Baker writes it Young owe and Pegang Young-ue ; 

 Symes, Nioun-doh ; Cox, Gneayan Gu-cayne and Gucayen; Cravvfurd Ayaung-ngu ; 

 and Wallich Gnaunee. The Burmese lower classes scarcely pronounce the nung 

 of Nyoung, which has led a friend of mine to write the name Gnee-a-oo. 



