1840.] Mission to the Court of Siam. 29 



things in Siam, which I know is not true, and Mr. Hunter 

 had heard the people in passing making remarks on the ma- 

 terials^ but was not aware of the feelings on the subject. The 

 Praklang offered if I wished to have it immediately taken down ; 

 I told him that of course I should be obliged by his doing so, as 

 I could not use the house until it was altered. The Praklang 

 seemed excessively annoyed that I had been told of it, and gave 

 orders to prevent the people communicating with my followers ; of 

 this I complained, and asked him to remove the restriction; he said 

 they have always been enemies with the Burmans, and could not 

 now feel otherwise ; but as they had come with me no restraint 

 should be put upon them, but they must tell the officer on duty 

 at their quarters when their friends came to see them. I 

 pointed out to him, that these people had no more to do with the 

 Burman government than the Siamese, and that I only wished 

 them to have the same liberty the Siamese had when they 

 came to Maulmain. He said such was their friendship for the 

 English, that they might go when and where they pleased. 

 He then asked me if I had served in the last war with Ava, 

 and whether it was likely we should go to war with that 

 country again. I explained the conduct of the present Burman 

 government towards Colonel Burney, the forbearance of the 

 government of India, and its wish to avoid a war, but that 

 fears were entertained that it would be impossible, from the 

 warlike preparations made by the present king, his refusal to 

 consider himself bound by the treaty of Yandaboo, or receive 

 the present resident. A good deal of conversation passed 

 on this subject ; he did not, however, proffer any assistance, 

 nor did I think it necessary at this meeting to make any re- 

 quest about the cattle. He asked me how and when I proposed 

 returning ; I said it was impossible for me to say ; he assured 

 me I might go in any direction I chose, by land or by water, 

 and remain as long as I pleased ; he requested me to wait a 

 couple of days, when I should be introduced to the king, 

 for which honour I expressed my thanks ; we took our leave 

 and returned home. The Praklang is a fat, good tempered old 

 gentleman, about sixty, he received us with nothing on but the 

 cloth round his loins, seated on a raised platform or square couch. 



