698 Account of Arakan. [No. 117. 



had no certainty of the amount that would be demanded from them. 

 Arakan Proper^ after paying its own expences, or satisfying its local 

 government, was required to furnish subsistence for the royal white 

 elephant ; this amounted to 120 viss of silver annually, or about Com- 

 pany's rupees 20,000. All the lands west of the river Mayu were set 

 apart for the Tharawadi Prince, the present king of Ava. He ap- 

 pointed to them an officer, who remitted to Ava yearly the tribute due 

 to the prince, which amounted to about 3000 rupees. Neither the 

 myo-woon^ nor any of the public officers received any fixed salary, but 

 had fees upon all collections and customs, and a share of all fines im- 

 posed. Each buffaloe plough paid yearly 15 Burman baskets of 

 dhan^ equal to lOi maunds. Each bullock plough paid ten Burman 

 baskets. There was also a capitation tax on each married householder. 

 When the myo-thoo-gyee, and other officer was called to the court 

 of Ava, the province had to pay the expences of his journey, as also of 

 the journies of the myo-woon^ and other officers appointed from Ava, 

 on their coming to assume charge, likewise on their recal. A certain 

 number of men were expectedto take to Ava every year a beautiful 

 flower peculiar to Arakan^ which none but the royal family were al- 

 lowed without permission to wear in their ears or hair ; others were set 

 apart for keeping the royal gardens in order ; sixty were always to be 

 at work at Ava, and had to be supported by the remainder of their 

 number in Arakan ; they were relieved annually. 



These various calls upon their industry, the general poverty from 

 stagnation of trade, and the flight of a large portion of the populace, 

 together with nearly all the respectable families, made the condition of 

 the people very wretched, and the contrast is infinitely in favour of the 

 present state of things. But the upper classes do not participate in these 

 congratulatory feelings to the extent that the lower do. They have re- 

 gained their country, but not the high position they appear to have an- 

 ticipated. They refer to the power they formerly had under their own 

 kings ; their being then allowed to hold slaves, who under our rule 

 have been declared free ; also the emancipation of the debtor slaves, 

 who having pledged their persons were bondsmen to their masters, 

 until they could repay the sums advanced. 



The upper classes, and the literati, who are much respected, speak 

 with regret of t^he neglect now shewn to pagodas and religious edifices, 



