180 Some Account of the Lacquered [May t 



The umbrellas of all classes are made with paper and two or three 

 coats of varnish, over which, whenever required, gold leaf is easily put 

 on in the manner above described. Almost all domestic utensils are 

 made with this substance, and basket-work or wood. I should think 

 very light portmanteaus or pitarahs might be made, by applying over 

 a bamboo frame-work this varnish, and the thayo, which would fill 

 up all the cavities, and render the articles impervious to water. Rat- 

 tan might be too heavy, and the priming might not adhere so well to 

 its polished surface. The theet-tsec would answer well as a preserva- 

 tive for the sides of ships and their standing rigging ; I applied a coat 

 of it, in the absence of paint, to the sides of some gun-boats, and 

 found the material cheaper and much more durable than paint. By 

 first applying a coat of the thayo or paste, the sides of a vessel 

 might be made perfectly smooth and even, and impervious to water ; 

 and In this manner the Burmese finish their best war boats, which are 

 afterwards gilded over if required*. It is necessary to mention, that 

 the surface of the theet-tsee^ when kept, is always covered with 2 or 

 3 inches of water, to prevent the varnish from drying or becoming 

 hard. 



Observing that Dr. Wallich had never seen the theet-tsee in 

 flower, I requested Dr. Richardson, during his verland journey last 

 year to the frontiers of Manipur, to bring me a specimen. He passed 

 through extensive forests of the tree, from a place called Mya-goo, 

 about 5 days journey from Ava, to the Manipur boundary. The 

 trees were very large, and had a beautiful appearance from being 

 covered with flowers so abundantly that the leaves were concealed, and 

 the trees looked one mass of white. The bark appeared quite dry, 

 and no juice was oozing at the little slips of bamboo which he saw 

 sticking in the trunks of the trees. The flower has a fragrant scent, 

 resembling that of apples, and the Burmese eat the young buds in 

 curries. The wood of the theet-tsee is of the colour and appearance 

 of the red wood of the Malay countries. It is much used, converted 

 into charcoal, by blacksmiths and others requiring a very hot and 

 quick fire ; and it is used also for such little articles of furniture as the 

 Burmese can boast of. 



* Most of the lacquered ware is made round, in consequence of the convenience 

 of finding the surface smooth on a lathe, but I have lately induced Burmese 

 workmen to prepare articles of other forms, and they have begun to make ladies* 

 square work boxes, and gentlemens* hats ; which last will be useful in wet wea- 

 ther. 



