1840.] Mission to the Court of Siam. 7 



me at the door, and pointed out my seat, a chair on one side of 

 the entrance, and the place for some of my people on the floor 

 immediately in front of me. The Won came in about five 

 minutes, and seated himself on a sort of platform at the other 

 end of the room or shed, which might be fifty feet long by 

 twenty-five broad ; his officers were in front of him, crouched 

 on their elbows. He asked the usual questions, when I left 

 Maulmain, the state of the road, how I had been treated and fur- 

 nished with provisions, &c. &c. I inquired when he heard from 

 Bankok, the health of the king, state of the country, war with 

 Cochin-China, his own health, &c. &c. and after some time 

 I asked him about the convicts escaped from the jail at Tavoy ; 

 he said there had twelve arrived some time ago, two of whom 

 had died ; six others had been sent from May-nam-noi and 

 arrived the day before yesterday ; the ten remaining of the 

 first arrival, were now in irons in jail ; the others were not yet 

 confined, but should be immediately. I had yesterday heard 

 (our people who came in the boats saw them) that the 

 officers for Maulmain and Tavoy had left this the day before 

 yesterday, and the Myo-won now confirmed this intelli- 

 gence. I had expressed my anxiety to see them, and get them 

 to take charge of these prisoners, to the Myotsa of May- 

 nam-noi, and have no doubt the boatmen mentioning this, was 

 the reason of their starting without seeing me, as they 

 would naturally otherwise have wished to do ; I however still 

 urged him to send these men back with them. After much con- 

 versation, in which I pointed out to him the article in the 

 treaty on the subject, he refused to send them back without 

 an order from the ministers ; as he declined giving them up, I 

 requested he would not allow them to escape, as I should re- 

 peat the request at Bankok ; he said they were all in irons 

 except the last six; if I did not believe him, I might go and 

 see them. I of course assured him I had implicit confidence 

 in his word ; at this juncture about 30 unfortunate Cochin- 

 Chinese prisoners were marched in, of whom there were 3000 

 at Camboorie ; I afterwards heard there were near 1000, pro- 

 bably 300 may be nearer the truth ; he said six of these men 

 had made their escape, and begged me to apprehend and send 



