1840.] Mission to the Court of Siam. 241 



supposed I had got them ; those which had brought the people 

 from Camboorie had been detained for them, and the man in 

 charge of them was ordered to wait on me. The Praklang 

 offered to deliver the Thugs over to me, but I could not take 

 charge of them ; I warned him of their character, and told him 

 that they annually in India committed many hundreds of mur- 

 ders, where more care was taken to prevent it, than could be 

 done in Siam. I told him I was anxiously waiting for the letters, 

 and (in answer to his question) that I wished to start on Mon- 

 day or Tuesday, (the 11th or 12th). He told me the king him- 

 self, Cromaluang-rak, and Chowkoon-booden would each return 

 an elephant for the presents I had brought them. 



The Jaung-Kieuk of the Gyne district, who had accompa- 

 nied me with a view of obtaining the release of his wife, (who 

 had been separated from him at the emigration of the Talines 

 from the district of Martaban in 1816, without his knowledge 

 or consent, as he was at the time of the rising absent with the 

 Mya-won of Martaban, some miles from the town), who by 

 Burman law, and I doubt not Siamese law also, ought to be 

 given up to him, has been making all the interest in his power 

 to get this government to allow her to accompany him to Maul- 

 main; amongst others, Mr. Hunter has repeatedly spoke to 

 the Praklang about her, and as he would give no answer one 

 way or other, I this night spoke to him for the first time on 

 the subject, explaining at the same time, that it was a private 

 request ; he told me she might go if she had the leave of the 

 person with whom she now lives, and was willing to go, but that 

 he had been told she was not willing. I said I had seen the 

 woman myself, and she had told me she was most anxious to 

 return, as her mother and relations were at Maulmain; he 

 promised to inquire into the subject, and we took our leave 

 about 8 p.m. 



March 9th. — About noon, dispatched the boat with the letters, 

 giving the messenger ten rupees for the boatman, if he reached 

 Takanoon in ten days. In the afternoon Mr. Hunter was sent 

 for to translate the letters to Mr. Prinsep and the Commissioner, 

 which are almost transcripts of those of which I was the bearer. 

 The force destined for Sangora is still in the river, about five 



