5837.] Journal of an expedition from Moulmien to Ava. 1013 



quested to proceed to Ava to acquaint Col. Burney, for the informa- 

 tion of the court of Ava, with the result of my endeavours to open the 

 gold and silver road through the Karian country. He replied " Oh 

 yes, oh yes, go, go." The whole tenor of his conversation had heen 

 most discourteous, and I said I thought the sooner I went the better, 

 and wished to start in two or three days. The first Na-kan then ad- 

 dressed me with much civility and asked if I did not wish to see the 

 Tso-boa ; I said most certainly, that had been the original purport of 

 my visit, but that it depended on the " Tseet-kay-dau gyee" to whom 

 the king had confided the supreme authority here. This seemed to 

 please him, he said "■ Ah that is a proper answer." The Na-kan again 

 said, " Why you are only just come amongst us and are already talking 

 of leaving us ; you must stay with us a little while, it will be necessary 

 to get permission from Ava " for you to proceed." I said such was ray 

 wish, and that it was with the intent that I should express your wish 

 also to be on the most friendly terms, but as yet I had no reason to 

 believe I was a welcome visitor, and wished to be allowed to proceed 

 without waiting a reference to Ava which could only sanction my pro- 

 ceeding, as I dreaded being caught in the rains on account of the 

 people with me having no shelter. The Tseet-kay said sneeringly, "he 

 calls himself 'tsia-woon' (a doctor) and is afraid of dying," of which 

 speech I took no notice. 



The Na-kan said I had taken them by surprise, that they had 

 intended me to live in a brick building on the other side of the town. 

 The Tseet-kay interposed and said I might live where I pleased. 

 I asked his advice regarding the best course for traders to take ; he 

 said traders had come here before my visit and would continue to do 

 so, that no one prevented them from trading, they might either sell 

 the things where they were, or go to the bazar with them. I repeat- 

 ed my request that if they were satisfied with my intentions, I might 

 see the Tso-boa, and after some conference amongst themselves, it was 

 agreed I should see him at the youm on Monday (the next day but 

 one) . 1 requested the Tseet-kay to take charge of the presents which 

 he refused to do, saying they were not for him ; told me to take them 

 away and bring them on Monday. I objected to this as dragging 

 them about the town would be disrespectful to you, and told him that 

 they had been brought at his request, which he denied, though the 

 bearer of his message to that effect was at my elbow ; he however at 

 last took a list of them and gave them in charge to a " Tyke-tsoe," 

 and, took my leave. In the evening Mkng nay-myo who has through- 

 out evinced a kind and conciliatory disposition, came to my tent with 

 6 N 



