1840.] Mission to the Court of Siam. 223 



audience with the king, which is fixed to take place on the 17th. 

 The Praklang is a great epicure, and withal liberal of his 

 good things ; he sends me daily several dishes of what he thinks 

 the best, and is always particularly anxious to know if I eat any ; 

 he made very particular inquiries on that head, of Piadadie 

 to-day. It seems to be with him quite as important a matter as 

 any state duty he has to perform, in which he is not parti- 

 cularly interested. Patience is a virtue almost invaluable here. 



February 14th. — Went to the Praklang' s garden this morning, 

 in hopes of meeting him, and hastening him- in some little 

 matter I was anxious he should settle, but did not see him. 

 Mr. Hunter was sent for by him in the evening, to explain 

 a view of London I had brought as a present to the king. I 

 fear I shall have no business done before I obtain an audience 

 of his Majesty. Piadadie called this evening for the king's 

 presents, which I handed over to him. 



Some of my Taline followers crossed over to the city to-day in 

 a boat of Mr. Hunter's (as no Siamese or Taline dared furnish 

 them with one) to see their relatives ; there is a good deal of 

 excitement amongst them, as a belief prevails that I have 

 come to demand their release. The circumstance of the people 

 crossing was reported to the king, who ordered that they 

 should go wherever they pleased ; he does not, however, wish 

 me to take any of them to the audience, and they complain that 

 their friends are still prevented coming to them. 



February 15th. — Mr. Hunter saw the Praklang, who had 

 sent Coon- Sit, his son, for my tents, to see them pitched, as 

 he wished to have one made should he be obliged to go against 

 the Malays. I had sent a message to him in the morning by 

 Benedito to say my Taline people were very anxious to see the 

 king, and as they were not subjects of Ava but England, I 

 wished he would get permission for them to do so. He told 

 Mr. Hunter I was to be received with higher honors than he 

 had ever witnessed at Siam, and that they could not be admitted 

 this time, but should I afterwards have a more private audience, 

 they should then be allowed to accompany me. He also told him 

 letters had arrived for me at Camboorie, but that the Myo-won 

 was afraid to allow the messenger (who would not give up 



