436 Some account of the Wars between Burmah and China. [June, 



party of officers assembled in the conference held on the 10th April 1823, by 

 the interpreters L6-shue, L6-tsheng, Nga-bhue-zen, and Nga-shue- 

 maung, superintended by the Chinese clerk. 



" Elder brother Thauk Kuon, (Taou Kuang,) king of U'di, who, assisted by 

 the Tha-gya chief, rules over the great kingdoms and a multitude of umbrella- 

 wearing chiefs to the eastward, affectionately addresses younger brother, the 

 Sun-descended king, lord of the golden palace, lord of the Tshaddan, king of 

 elephants, master of many white elephants, and possessor of mines of gold, 

 silver, rubies, noble serpentine and amber, who rules over the great kingdoms 

 and a multitude of chiefs wearing umbrellas, and dwelling in palaces to the 

 westward. 



" The royal ancestors of elder and younger brother, assisted by the Tha-gy& 

 Nat, have uninterruptedly interchanged letters, and it is now two years since elder 

 brother succeeded to the throne on the departure to the Nat country of (Lis) 

 father. Once in the time of (our) royal ancestors in the year 1111 (A. D. 1749) . 

 once in the time of (my) grandfather Khyeng-lou'n in the year 114(1 (A. D. 

 1787) ; and once, in the time of (my) father Kya'-tshi'n in the sixteenth year 

 of (his) reign, and in the time of younger brother's grandfather Alaung Meng- 

 dara'igh'h, ambassadors were mutually deputed; and the gold and silver road 

 having been established and the two countries joined in a manner into one, the 

 poor people and (our) slaves have continued to trade together. It is now twelve 

 years since any presents have been exchanged between younger and elder bro- 

 ther's countries. Tshi'n-ta'-yeng, the Tsoun-tu of Maing:tshi, was directed to 

 transmit presents again in charge of Yeng-tshenj-ye', but the Tsoun-tu hav- 

 ing reported that the presents were not received, because they were unaccompa- 

 nied by a royal letter, Yan-ta'-lG-ye' has also been commissioned to convey 

 the presents ; and by the newly appointed Tsoun-tu, Myi'n-ta'-yeng, and 

 Shaya-we of the imperial guard, are sent a royal letter, two fur jackets lined 

 with yellow silk, 1 small Yenthain box, and 2 boxes containing glass tea-cups 

 with covers and saucers, for the purpose of being forwarded to younger brother, 

 together with the presents formerly sent, and a male and female 16* with saddles 

 complete. Let these ambassadors return without delay, and on their return, it 

 will be as if the countenance of younger brother, the Sun-descended king and 

 lord of the golden palace, has been seen." 



Direction of the letter. 

 On the 1st December, 1822, in the second year ofT,HAUK Kuon's reign, 

 elder brother, T,hauk Kuon, king of U'di, has to represent to younger brother 

 the Sun-descended king. 



King of Ava's renLy to the above letter. 

 17th June, 1823. The royal letter on gold leaf to be delivered to the king of 

 Gan-dd-la-yitf by Tsare-dA-gyi'h (principal clerk or secretary) Ne-myo- 

 menitha, and others, who are appointed envoys to accompany the Chinese 

 ambassadors. 



* This is a large description of mule, which the Burmese assert is prolific, 

 t This is the classical term for China. Tarovp country is the common name. 



