1838.] Excursions to the Eashvard. 603 



tin, rice, and small articles of native exportation, and return with cloth, 

 chintzes, glass ware and other manufactures. 



He pays no regular sum to the emperor, but at the expiration of 

 every three or four years he sends, or takes a valuable present to him. 

 The emperor of course receives all the profits that accrue from the 

 sale of tin, the governor making his on the ore sold to the smelter. 



Phoonga swarms with priests. They have four monasteries, but no 

 temple deserving of notice. I visited the principal Wat or monastery 

 early one morning. The superior, a man of eighty years of age by his 

 own account, received me very politely. He seemed to think it requi- 

 site to account for the mean appearance of their sacred edifices, by ob- 

 serving that the materials had been collected for the constructing of 

 others, but that the constant dread they were in of Burman invasion 

 prevented them from carrying their intentions into execution. He then 

 complained of a disease to which he was subject and asked me for some 

 medicines. His complaint however being the irremediable one of old 

 age, consolation was the only relief which could be offered. 



The Siamese are very fond of European medicines, and like several 

 eastern nations fancy that every white man is a physician. This con- 

 vent seemed to be a hospital for dogs, which from the smallest to the 

 largest size overspread the court, scarely leaving room to walk. The 

 Siamese are forbidden to destroy life, which may account for this pre- 

 posterous kindness. From what I observed it would appear that in 

 Phoonga there is at least one priest for the cure of every hundred 

 souls ! But the poor people do not benefit much by their advice. If 

 they assist in daily filling the brass jar or Baat which the Chaukoo 

 carries about to receive contributions, and make a few periodical offer- 

 ings at the shrine of Phra Phoot or Buddha, which are afterwards 

 transferred to the houses of the priests, they fancy they have amply 

 fulfilled the duties of their religion ; and leave the priest to repay them- 

 selves by prayers offered up either for success, or to avert some expect- 

 ed calamity. The priests here had some Bali books which few of them 

 comprehended ; most of them can read such with about as much advan- 

 tage to themselves as the generality of Mussulmans in Hindustan do 

 the Koran. 



Refreshments can be had here on reasonable terms, such as poultry, 

 hogs and fruits. 



They have a few cattle (bovine) but they were unwilling to dispose 

 of them. 



They have many tame elephants. The chief gave me the use of his 

 while there, and also of a small pony called a horse which he had got 

 from Penang. 



