542 Some account of the Wars hetween Burmah and China. [July, 



IV. Some account of the Wars between Burmah and China, together 



with the journals and routes of three different Embassies sent to Pekin 

 by the King of Ava : taken from Burmese documents. By Lieutenant- 

 Colonel H. Burney, Resident in Ava. 



[Concluded from p. 451.] 

 The last embassy sent by the king of Ava to Pekin accompanied a 

 Chinese embassy, which arrived at Ava in the month of April, 1833. 

 The principal envoy from China was distinguished by a great attach- 

 ment to strong liquors, with which the Burmese Government liberally 

 supplied him, and he was often publicly seen in a state of intoxication. 

 The principal envoy of the Burmese deputation was a Tsaredo-gyih 

 whose family name is Maung Weng, and with whom I was well ac- 

 quainted. But on his return from China he caught a jungle fever 

 which brought on mental derangement, from the effects of which the 

 poor man is not recovered at this date, 1836. The fever was caught 

 after the envoy had entered his own country again, for a large tract 

 of territory above Ava is considered by the Burmese as particularly 

 unhealthy. 



The following is a translation of such portions of the proceedings of 

 this last embassy as I have yet been able to procure. 



Letter from the Emperor of China to the King of Ava in 1833. 



Elder brother Tauk-kuon, king of U'di, who, assisted by the Thagya Nat, 

 governs the great kingdoms and countries to the eastward, affectionately addresses 

 younger brother, the sun-descended king, lord of the golden palace, and owner of 

 mines of gold, silver, rubies, amber and noble serpentine, who governs the great 

 kingdoms and countries and a multitude of umbrella-wearing chiefs to the westward. 

 Elder brother, who obtained possession of the throne through the glory of his an- 

 cestors, is in amicable relations with various kingdoms and countries. In elder 

 brother's empire also, elder brother himself, his queen, sons, daughters, nobles and 

 officers, together with the inhabitants of the country, are in good health ; and he de- 

 sires to hear and know, that in younger brother's empire also, the sun-descended 

 king, his queen, sons, daughters, nobles, officers, the poor people and royal slaves, 

 are all well and happy. In pursuance of the custom which has existed since the 

 year 1149, (A. D. 1787,) in the reign of (his) grand-father Khyeng-loun, king of 

 U'dl, for a royal letter with presents to pass once in ten years, the ten years having 

 expired, a royal letter with gifts, four good horses, and various cloths, such as are 

 always presented, are now sent with Tshein-ta'-lo'-ye', and Yeng-tsheng-ye\ 

 On their arrival, let younger brother, the sun-descended king, agreeably to the 

 friendship and love subsisting between the two countries as if they were one, and 

 according to existing custom, prepare a royal letter and envoys in return and forward 

 them. When the men deputed by the sun-descended king and the royal letter and 

 gifts arrive at the city of Maing:tsht (Yunan), the Tsoiin-m of Maing :tshi, (governor 

 general of Yunan,) will appoint officers to convey them safely on the road as far as 

 the great city (Pekin), and the envoys deputed by the sun-descended king with the 

 royal letter and presents shall be suitably taken care of and entertained. Let the 

 men, Tshein-ta'-lo'-ye', and Yeng-tsheng-ye', whom elder brother deputes, 

 return soon ; and when the envoys come back, it will be like having seen the coun- 

 tenance of younger brother, the lord of the golden palace. 



Answer from the King of Ava to the letter from the Emperor of China, received at 

 Ava in the month of April, 1833. 

 The lord of the Tshaddan elephant, the master of many white elephants, the 

 owner of mines of gold, silver, rubies, amber and noble serpentine, who bears the 



I 



