704 An account of some of the Petty States [Nav. 



in the day-light. I told him I had come as he had requested, and as the Com- 

 missioner of Maulamyne had promised last year, from whom I had brought a 

 letter and presents, and wished to open the gold and silver road between us, and 

 be friends with the Kayen nation, &c. &c. He gave me an opportunity of talk- 

 ing, as he said nothing for a quarter of an hour. At last he requested to have 

 the letter read and explained, which was done. He then said his object in re- 

 questing an officer to visit him was to know if the English would form an alli- 

 ance with him, — for the purpose of making war on the Burmans ! I declin- 

 ed the honor of a warlike alliance, but told him our views were all peaceable, 

 and that we never made war unless injured, when vengeance was instantaneous. 

 I begged his protection for our traders, &c. &c. &c. He said if we would not 

 make war along with him, he must make friends with us, nevertheless ; but that 

 war with the Burmaus was his object in asking a visit, and that he would send 

 for some chiefs from Ngoay Doun, and make known my visit, and the wish for a 

 friendly intercourse. He promised his protection to traders, and was as friend- 

 ly as possible. By this time I could see the size of the room — it was about 

 thirty feet by forty, and a bow end where the door entered. The fire was in the 

 middle of the room on a little square place insulated from the floor, being 

 raised an inch or two from it and supported from below, the roof splendidly 

 varnished with soot. The old man was alone when I went in ; the room was, 

 however, soon crowded, but their whole demeanour was civil and respectful, — 

 very different from what the Zimmay chiefs wished me to believe. In the even- 

 ing the old man's factotum came out to beg me to delay six or eight days, which 

 I declined, and begged to be dismissed on the 17th. This old man, who is an 

 up-country Shan, after giving a splendid account of the numbers of the Kayens 

 and size of their towns, said some of their towns had four hundred houses, and the 

 country was six days' journey from north to south, and four from east to west. 

 Pha-bho discourages men-catching, but the people pay no regard to his coun- 

 sels. There is something like law amongst them ; for, on inquiring the cause 

 of the firing of muskets that took place this morning, I was told it was a robber 

 who had been ransomed by his friends for two ketsees U1 (copper drum, a sort 

 of gong) and 100 tickals coarse silver. Found our height by the thermometer 

 to-day to be 1021 feet. The flat on which we are encamped, and on which the 

 village is situated, is about 610 paces wide and 600 or 650 long. There is 

 another about 600 feet higher of the same size, and still further up is a third 

 platform 2049 feet above the sea and about two miles square, perfectly level, with 

 rich soil, all under cultivation, watered by two streams which rush down the 

 perpendicular face of the mountain from above and irrigate the two lower plat- 

 forms. The mountain is of limestone, and its steepest acclivity appears to be 

 on this side, though the presence of the beautiful stream on this face would in- 

 dicate the country. 



" Ibth. Had a visit from the old chief to-day, a dirty shabby old Kayen when 

 seen by day-light. The only indications of his chieftainship were a gold sword 

 and a silver betel-box, both of which he carried himself, and his only attendant 

 was the old Shan mentioned yesterday. He was as silent as before for some. 

 time. He at last began to speak, and continued talking for about an hour of 

 the origin of the human race, to prove what I had said (on his questioning) that 

 the English were the most powerful nation in the world, to be incorrect, or at 



