K)ltf Journal of an expedition from Moulmien to Ava. [Dec 



at the place he intended for me I told him I preferred remaining 

 where I was, and he had huts built for my people near my tent. The 

 traders were in a large zeyat 50 or 60 yards off. Between this day 

 and the 25th I called on all the officers who had met me at the youm, 

 and my reception by all of them was civil and friendly. 



With the exception of the Tseet-kay and Meng-nay-myo, whose 

 houses are large and commodious, they are worse lodged than the 

 native officers in Maulmain and Tavoy, or indeed than some of the Thoo- 

 gyees of our villages. I applied once again through Meng-nay-myo 

 to the Tseet-kay to see the Tso-boa, if he saw no objection - r he gave 

 an evasive answer and as my visit was not returned by any of the offi- 

 cers except Meng-nay-myo, my visits were necessarily confined to 

 the Tseet-kay (whom I saw frequently) and him, at his house. I met 

 amongst others the Tseet-kay of Kiang Tung, and some Shan officers 

 of that town who had been sent by the Tso-boa last year, and endea- 

 voured to open a communication with Maulmain ; but after being de- 

 tained nine months at Zimmay and treated with neglect by the Chow 

 Houaofthat place they were refused permission to pass through the 

 Zimmay territory. They expressed themselves much delighted at the 

 mission of Lieut. McLeod. They were on their way to Ava with the 

 gold and silver flowers forming annual tribute, and we ultimately 

 entered Ava together. On the 8th March we heard the first report of 

 the prince Sarawattie's rebellion. It was brought from Ava in six days 

 by special messenger ; it was stated that his quarrel was entirely with 

 the queen's brother. The Tseet-kay was desired to keep the country 

 quiet, as it was likely every thing would be settled in a few days by the 

 prince's capture. The impression of the non -official people I convers- 

 ed with was, from the first, that unless the queen's brother was given 

 up to him he would have both the power and inclination to take him 

 by force, and the wishes of the people were all in his favour. 



The second Bodhayea sent his brother to request me to make his 

 house my own and come and see him frequently, to which I objected 

 as he had not returned my first visit, Which accords with the Burman 

 custom, as well as with ours ; and they are the last people in the world 

 to whom concessions of this kind can be made. He communicated my 

 message to his brother, who said I was right, and that he would speak 

 to the Tseet-kay on the subject, which he did, and we afterwards re- 

 peatedly exchanged visits. Some of the town people came almost 

 daily to my tent ; amongst others some Chinamen, residents here, whom 

 I urged to press their countrymen to push on to Maulmain ; they told 

 me that three or four of them had gone this year to see the state of 



