1014 Journal of an expedition from Moulmien to Ava. 



[Dec, 



two of the Tseet-kay's sons, probably to see how I was satisfied with 

 my reception. I told him that I had conversed with Burmans of all 

 ranks from the king downwards, and had never been addressed as I had 

 to-day ; that it was evidently more to their advantage than ours that 

 trade, which was the greatest source of prosperity to all countries, 

 should be opened between us, that it was a bad return for your friend- 

 ly intentions, and that if the tenor of the conversation on Monday was 

 the same as it had been to-day, however sorry I might be, I saw no 

 alternative but to return by the route I had come and report my recep- 

 tion to you, when the king would be made acquainted with it. He said 

 this was true, but that he had spoken to the Tseet-kay (with whom 

 he is connected by marriage and had great influence) and assured me 

 I should not again have reason to complain, and begged me to say no 

 more about it : when his visit had lasted about an hour, he took his 

 leave. On Monday I sent the Shan interpreter to the Tseet-kay to re- 

 monstrate against being seated outside the " Coon-tseen," and to request 

 him to send and to let me know when they were ready to receive me 

 at the youm. He was for the first time exceedingly civil, requested 

 him to tell me they were here amongst a people of a different nation 

 from themselves, that the customs were different from those of Ava, 

 that the Tso-boa would also be seated outside, and that he would send 

 and let me know when they were ready at the youm, which he did at 

 half-past nine, and I proceeded there accompanied by the Meng-nay- 

 myo as before. All the military chiefs were assembled and in half 

 an hour, which was employed in friendly conversation, the Tso-boa 

 with four gold chuttahs, preceded by a guard, arrived and seated 

 himself by me outside the " Coon-tseen. ,i He is about 68 years of age, 

 and of the most mild and gentlemanly manners of any Burman I have 

 seen, tall, and fair even for a Shan. I again explained the mistake of 

 the letter and your wishes for a friendly intercourse, and for his and 

 the " Tseet-kay's" protection and assistance to our people coming 

 here to trade, promising a continuation of the same encouragement to 

 his people they had hitherto received at Maulmain, and regretted we 

 had seen none of them for the last two years. I said you had heard 

 the Toung-ngoo road was unsafe to travel, and had dispatched me to 

 open the road through the Ka-reen-nee country, which I had succeed- 

 ed in doing, and hoped the intercourse would now be uninterrupted. 

 I delivered the letter which the " Tseet-kay" had returned me, and a 

 list of the presents was read, and they were laid before him : he 

 replied that it was well, that he was glad to see me, but as he was 

 subject to Ava, the letter and presents must be sent there ; and I must 



