1832.] or Japanned Ware of Ava. 173 



times with gyee or great added, is the name now given to Cochin China 

 only. After the last coat of varnish has been applied, and it is tho- 

 roughly dry, figures, lines, &c. are described by the lacquered ware 

 being scooped or scratched, just deep enough to remove two or three 

 coats of the varnish, with rude steel tools, either sharp pointed or having 

 the point slightly divided. This last described instrument is called 

 tsout : it is used like a gouge, and guided by the thumb of the left 

 hand whilst the right is scooping out the lines. The former instrument 

 called gouk, is often nothing more than a broken needle tied to the end 

 of a small piece of stick, and it is used to describe the circular lines ; 

 the lacquered ware being turned round with the help of the knees and 

 left hand against the instrument held steadily in the right hand. It is 

 surprizing how quickly the workmen use these rude gravers, which are 

 sharpened with a piece of slate usually brought from Shzoe zettau on 

 the road to Arracan, and called Shwe-zet-tau-Kyouk. When being 

 sharpened, the instrument is held against the forefinger of the left hand, 

 and the slate, moistened with a little spittle, is rubbed against it. The 

 edge also of the slate on one side is made fine, for the purpose of being 

 rubbed within the divided point of the tsout. When the figures and 

 ornaments are furnished, a coat of vermilion and theet-see is put over 

 the whole surface of the ware, and allowed some days to dry. The ware 

 is then placed on the lathe, and turned round against some wet bran 

 pressed down upon it with the left hand, and occasionally washed in 

 water. This process rubs off all the vermilion from those parts which 

 are in relief. A second and a third coat of vermilion is applied, and 

 partially removed in the same manner. It is then placed in the sun for 

 a few minutes, and when perfectly dry, a coat of the semi-transparent 

 mixture, before described, is put on, rubbed off with a piece of 

 cloth, and a second coat put on, which is allowed some days to dry, 

 for the Shan oil always takes a long time to dry. This kind of engrav- 

 ing is the most tedious and expensive, and it is called Shan Yowon-tho y 

 the Shan Yowon engraving, from the circumstance of all Shan boxes 

 being so ornamented. The tsout or gouk, somewhat in the manner of 

 our wood engraving, scoops or cuts all the surface except the figures 

 and ornaments required, which remain black, the colour of the original 

 ground, whilst those parts only where the gravers have made hollows 

 or incisions, are afterwards filled up with red. The Shan Yowon-tho 

 executed by Burmese workmen can never be made to look so well as 

 that done in the Shan countries, owing either to the theet-tsee not 

 being so fresh and pure, as the workmen allege ; or to the Shans makino- 

 use of some other materials unknown to the Burmese, which last I am 



