INDIA BEYOND THE GANGES, 85 



of the Hindoos, though they are not votaries of Brahma, but secta- 

 ries of Boodh. 



The emperor of Ava, like the other sovereigns of the east, is a des- 

 potic monarch. The prevailing characteristic of the Birman court is 

 pride. Like the sovereign oi China, his majesty of Ava acknowledges 

 no equal. There are no hereditary dignities or employments in the 

 Birman government. All honours and offices, on the demise of the 

 possessor, revert to the crown. The titles the monarch assumes in 

 his public acts are, the " Lord of earth and air; the monarch of ex- 

 tensive countries ; the proprietor of all kinds of precious stones : the 

 king wno performs the ten duties incumbent on all kings ; the master 

 of the white, red, and mottled elephants, whose praises are repeated 

 as far as the influence oi the sun and moon extends." 



Alompra, who, as mentioned above, in 1754 recovered the indepen- 

 dence of his country, and subdued the Peguers, was a Birman origin-' 

 ally ol low extraction, who collected a band of resolute adventurers, 

 defeated the Peguers, and rendered himself sovereign of Ava. He 

 died in 1760, and was succeeded by Namdogee Praw, who died in 

 1764, leaving the throne to his brother, Shembuan. The present sove- 

 reign is named Shembuan Minderagee Praw. He is the fourth son of 

 Alompra, and ascended the throne in 1782. 



Martaban is a country to the south-east of Pegu, and was for 

 merly an independent kingdom, but now makes a part of the empire 

 of Ava. The soil is fertile in rice, fruits, and various kinds of wine. 

 The capital of the same name, was once a much frequented sea-port 5 

 and one of the most flourishing commercial towns in the east, being 

 situate on a capacious bay, affording an excellent harbour for the 

 largest ships ; but after the conquest of the country by the emperor of 

 Ava, he caused a number of vessels, filled with stones, to be sunk at 

 its entrance, so that it is now only navigable for small vessels. The 

 chief trade is now in earthen ware and fish. 



The kingdom of Si am is rich and flourishing, and approaches, in its 

 government, policy, and the quickness and acuteness of its inhabi- 

 tants, very near to the Chinese. It is surrounded by high mountains, 

 which, on the east side, separate it from the kingdoms of Camboja 

 and Laos ; on the west from Pegu ; and on the north from Ava, or more 

 properly from Jangoma : on the south it is washed by the river Siam> 

 and joins the peninsula of Malacca, the north-west part of which is un- 

 der its dominion. The extent of the country, however, is very uncer- 

 tain, and it is but indifferently peopled. The inhabitants of both sexes 

 are more modest than any found in the rest of this peninsula. Great 

 care is taken in the education of their children. Their marriages are 

 simple, and performed by their talapoins, or priests, sprinkling holy 

 water on the couple, and repeating some prayers. The government 

 is despotic ; servants must appear before their masters in a kneeling 

 posture ; and the mandarins are prostrate before the king. Siam, the 

 capital, is represented as a large city, but scarcely one-sixth part of it 

 is inhabited : and the palace is about a mile and a half in circuit. Ban- 

 kok, which stands about 18 leagues to the south of Siam, and 12 miles 

 from the sea, is the only place towards the coast that is fortified with 

 walls, batteries, and brass cannon ; and the Dutch have a factory at 

 Ligor, which stands on the east side of the peninsula of Malacca, but 

 belonging to Siam. 



The peninsula of Malacca is a large country, and contains severa" 

 kingdoms or provinces. The Dutch, however, till lately, were, it is 



