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



remain. With Wu'n-ta'-lo-ye', whom the governor Hu'-ta'-lo-yb' 

 appointed to take charge of us, and the Chinese interpreters Yeng- 

 tsheng-ye', La-tsheng-ye', and Ya-tsheng-ye' we left M6:myin, and 

 in four stages reached the river called by the Chinese Lo&n-kyan and by 

 the Burmese Me-khaung. To cross this river there are two iron chains, 

 each consisting of three chains twisted together and measuring about ten 

 fingers in diameter and 245 cubits long with hooks at the ends. These 

 being drawn over the stream, which is 140 cubits broad, and fixed to two 

 posts on each bank, a plank flooring is laid upon them, at the sides of 

 which flooring posts are let in. and the whole is covered by a roof. This 

 bridge is called an iron bridge and is 7 cubits broad. Thence in seven- 

 teen stages we reached the city of Maing:tsh\ t Here on a piece of 

 ground 175 cubits in extent, paved with bricks, a religious edifice is erect- 

 ed, in which is placed a gilded wooden image of Gaudama sitting cross- 

 legged on his throne. We were lodged in some brick-built houses to the- 

 south and north of this religious edifice. The Tsoiin-tQ lives in a brick 

 house of 70 cubits in extent. We remained here twenty days, and left it on 

 the 21st October, 1823, the Tsoiin-tu of Maing:tsh\ having given to us, the 

 five ambassadors, sedan chairs with glasses at the sides, and horses to our 

 followers, with bearers and attendants for the whole of our party. In 

 twenty-four stages we reached the city of Tsein-shuon-fu where we stop- 

 ped a day to prepare the boat in which we were to embark. There were 

 ten boats for the Chinese and ten boats for us ; and having obtained the 

 requisite number of boatmen and porters, we moved down the stream, and 

 in fifteen days reached the city of Tshan-taik-fu, where there are many 

 ships (junks) and boats. Between Tshan-taik-fu, and Tsein-shuon-fu 

 there are many large towns and villages. We stopped a day at Tshan- 

 taik-fu, and then proceeded by land in thirty-seven stages to the Tseng- 

 tein-fu. This city is one taing square, and in the middle of it there are 

 four pagodas 40 or 50 cubits high, built in shape like the base of a Phoiin, 

 gyih's or Buddhist priest's flag staff, and a large kyaung or monastery with 

 five roofs of green and red color, and with a winding staircase. In the 

 centre of this monastery there is a gilded image of a nat 25 cubits high, 

 standing upright and having lotus leaves on its head, and within a hole 

 made between the eye-brows of this nat, we saw an image of Gau-da-ma 

 sitting cross-legged and about eight fingers breadth in height. Between 

 Tshan-taik-fu and Tseng-tein-fu there are many large towns and villages. 

 After leaving Tseng-tein-fu we arrived in ten stages, on the 22nd January, 

 1824, at the city of Pelcyln ( PekinJ the residence of the king of China. 

 We left Ba-mo on the 15th August, 1823, and arrived at the Chinese 

 capital on the 2-2ad January, 1824, being one hundred and sixty-one days, 

 or five (Burmese) months and twelve days. 



" On arriving at Pekin we were lodged at the brick-house, where it is 

 customary for all ambassadors to be accommodated, about 2,100 cubits 

 distant from the walls of the inner town, to the north-west of the palace 



