1840.] Mission to the Court of Siam. 9 



pree would not send me off to some other place ; I acknowledged 

 their kindness in wishing to entertain me, and requested him 

 to tell the Myo-won that I preferred going by the route I had 

 mentioned ; he promised to do so, staid till near ] 1 o'clock 

 p.m. and took his departure. I had a visit also from the second 

 officer of the town, who being ill only stayed a few minutes. 

 On the whole they have been civil and attentive ; I cannot how- 

 ever make out the motive of the officers en route to Maulmain 

 avoiding me (which they certainly have pointedly done, unless 

 to avoid refusing to take back the Thugs) as it might have 

 influenced their reception there. The Myo-won here receives 

 from the royal bounty 600 tickels a year, besides youm fees. 



January 27th, — Received from the Myo-won this morning 

 a present of fruit, &c, and had a long discussion with his writer 

 about the road; they appear determined to take me round by 

 Pra-pree, at the same time to avoid the appearance of con- 

 straint. After dinner I called on the Myo-won, according to 

 my proposal of yesterday ; he met me at the zayat where I 

 had seen him yesterday, and taking my hand led me to his 

 house just inside the fort. After a good deal of conversation 

 on different subjects, I remonstrated strongly against going 

 round by Rajapore, as I had no business whatever with the 

 chief of that town. I reminded him that the purpose of my 

 mission having last year been intimated to the court, that he 

 himself had been instructed not to detain me (of this I had 

 no doubt) ; I told him I had already exceeded by many days 

 the time I expected to be in Bankok, and further delay would 

 render it doubtful whether I should be able to return till after 

 the monsoon, &c. &c. &c. I naturally anticipate a stay of 

 some time in the capital, and fear I shall not be able to get 

 down any number of cattle before the rains, as the route from 

 Bankok to Zimmay, should I be allowed to proceed there, will 

 occupy a full month. An attempt was made to convict me of 

 having said I would go by Rajapore, and the Myo-won said he had 

 written before my arrival to the chief of that town that I would 

 visit him. I said I did not see in what way the ends of my 

 mission were to be forwarded by the detour, nor that he should 

 have written without my concurrence to the effect he men- 



