226 Mission to the Court of Siam. [No. 99. 



were shown into the Praklang's hall of justice, in which a carpet 

 was spread, and a seat prepared for us; here, with Benedito 

 and some other of the Portuguese officers, we were detained 

 for forty-five minutes, till the princes were assembled. The 

 people were perfectly civil, and with a little mild persuasion of 

 the rattan, tolerably quiet. My people came with me to this 

 hall, and followed me to the door of the palace, where they 

 might have remained quietly, had not some of them attempted 

 to come into the hall ; they were in consequence conducted 

 back to the hall where we had halted, outside the gilt door of 

 the palace, which was closed. The Siamese and native Chris- 

 tians who accompanied us fell on their knees and made as 

 many prostrations as they could, for a minute or less, while 

 the door was opening. We walked in, taking off our hats 

 at the door, Benedito creeping in before me on his knees 

 and elbows, and some of the others crawling near us. Im- 

 mediately inside the door, is a gilded screen, near which 

 the people were lying so close that only one could pass at a 

 time ; after passing it we came in sight of the king ; beyond this 

 we advanced a few paces, and sat down on the carpet (which 

 covered the whole centre of the hall) in the place pointed out to 

 us, making two or three salams to his Majesty, after which 

 he called us to come nearer ; myself and Mr. Hunter then 

 went in advance of the presents I had brought, and the other 

 gentlemen close up behind. At one side, and immediately in 

 front of us, was Pia-pil-pat, the second Praklang, who was 

 the channel of communication with his Majesty. The Pya 

 read a list of the presents, commencing and ending with a long 

 list of his Majesty's titles ; after which, the king at intervals 

 put the usual questions, and as Piadadie (the interpreter) who 

 met us when we landed, had been taken ill and obliged to 

 go home, Mr. Hunter was requested to act as interpreter, and 

 spoke sometimes in the Portuguese of this country to Pas- 

 cal, and sometimes in Siamese to Radsithee. The king asked if 

 it was the same Governor General who had sent Colonel 

 Burney, who now ruled India; how long the present Gover- 

 nor General had had his sway there ; asked after the Queen, 

 the Right Honorable the Governor General and the Com- 



