1837.] Journal of an expedition from Moulmien to Ava. 101 1 



shouting, indignity and insult was repeated as at Mok-mai. I got the 

 small tent pitched and endeavoured by shutting the windows to escape, 

 but in vain ; they held them up and shouted more furiously. I sent the 

 Shan interpreter with some of the most respectable traders to the Tso- 

 boa to report my arrival, the purport of my visit, to complain of my 

 reception, and to request protection from the insults of the mob . They 

 were stopped by the Tseet-kay whose house they had to pass; he 

 questioned them in most overbearing manner as to who they were, 

 where they came from, and what brought them here ; they endeavour- 

 ed to satisfy him on all these points and explain the reason the letters 

 were not addressed to him ; they asked permission to see the Tso-boa, 

 and requested protection from the mob. He immediately sent out 

 one or two Toung-hmoos and some peons, with ratans which they 

 seemed practised in using, to keep the rabble off the tent. He told 

 my people I should not see the Tso-boa till he was perfectly satisfied 

 with the objects of my visit, said we had no right to come this road, 

 that " Burney" was in Ava, and if we wished to come we should have 

 gone to Ava for permission. After a good deal more in the same 

 strain he concluded by saying — " Well he shall see the Tso-boa to-mor- 

 row." In the evening Meng-nay-myo-yadza narata the chief 

 secretary came out to my tent to inquire further the object of my visit, 

 and was much more friendly than I expected from the Tseet-kay- 

 dau's reception of my people. I gave him all the information he wished ; 

 he had been a sort of adjutant- general to Maha-nay-myo the general 

 of the Shan troops employed about Prome during the late war. After 

 a long conversation we parted very great friends, and he continued to 

 be most friendly and attentive during the whole of my stay. On the 

 following morning he sent for the Shan interpreter and several mes- 

 sages passed regarding my reception by the chiefs. It was proposed I 

 should first go to the youm where the lesser officers would be assembled; 

 that I should there take off my shoes and wait till a report was made 

 to the Tseet-kay, when he would send and call me to his house. I 

 objected to the whole arrangement and told them that in Ava I never 

 took off my shoes but in the palace, the houses of the princes or at 

 the Hloot-dau where I sat on an equality with the Woon-gyees and 

 Atween-woons. I acquainted him that as my letter was to the Tso- 

 boa I should wish to deliver it in person to him ; but the Tseet-kay 

 being the higher authority I wished first to see and be guided by him, 

 as you had commissioned me to open a friendly intercourse with this 

 country whoever was at the head of the government. Meng-nan-myo 

 returned a message to say he would propose, if I wished it, that I 



