1840.] Mission to the Court of Siam. 15 



January 3lst. — This morning the Myo-won sent a plentiful 

 breakfast for my whole party, and at noon, just as I was pre- 

 paring to take an altitude of the sun, a number of officers 

 came to say he was waiting to receive me ; I accompanied them, 

 taking with me two fuzils, a flask of powder, two small carpets, 

 and a piece of Bengal handkerchief. I found a chair placed 

 for me in the centre of the room, the Myo-won seated with a 

 mat and richly embroidered pillow on a sort of wooden 

 couch, at the end of the room, his officers lying before him 

 on the floor, which was covered with small carpets ; the room 

 had been ornamented by a Chinese or Siamese artist with 

 beautiful yellow grass, brown trees, green rocks, and blue cows, 

 with houses stuck here and there in most extraordinary per- 

 spective on the rocks, and a ship and one or two junks full sail 

 amongst the trees. Some small old fashioned English prints, 

 China lamps and lanterns, with some spears and muskets, com- 

 pleted the furniture and ornaments of the hall, which was about 

 the size of the house erected for me The conversation was ex- 

 ceedingly constrained, no one joining except the Myo-won and 

 myself; the subject talked of, was of course the object of my 

 mission, which I told him was to convey to the ministers of 

 his Majesty the king of Siam, the assurance of the high 

 esteem and friendship in which they were held by the ministers 

 of the great ruler of India, to increase and strengthen the friend- 

 ship between the two countries, and an invitation on my part 

 to his people to be more frequent in their visits to Maulmain, 

 which was now a large and flourishing country. He begged 

 me to be perfectly at home, and said there was no restraint 

 on the people with me, who might go where they pleased, &c. 

 &c. &c. I asked him regarding the route, and intimated my 

 intention to go by land, as I had already been delayed longer 

 than I anticipated on leaving Maulmain ; he wished me for my 

 own ease and comfort to go by water, and further urged the 

 impassible state of the road; I expressed my disinclination 

 to do so, as confinement in a boat affected my health ; he said 

 he would send word to the Myo-won of Nakoutchathee that 

 he might be prepared to expect me, and the matter seemed 

 settled. I remained about an hour and a half. The interview 



