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JOURNAL, R.A.S. ( CEYLON). 



[Vol. XX. 



to embark the wife of the banhd 1 of the old city, as her lady 

 of the bedchamber and governess, and other very beautiful 

 ladies. 



This structure having arrived, the principal lady of the 

 bedchamber went to visit the queen and do reverence to her, 

 and began to execute her office : and as she was a very old 

 woman, and of great respect and authority, the queen began 

 to treat her as a mother. Some days having passed, during 

 which the grand lady of the bedchamber had charge of her 

 and they were on terms of great friendship, she said one day 

 in speaking to her, that the Brama king had been informed 

 by his astrologers that he was to marry a princess of Ceilao 

 who would have certain measurements of the legs, arms, and 

 head, as was all set forth in those books, which the lady of the 

 bedchamber showed her : that therefore she must give her 

 leave, since of it was of great importance, that she should take 

 those measurements upon her : that that was the principal 

 cause for which the king had sent her, because he trusted her 

 alone with her person. The princess listened to her very 

 gravely, and with great haughtiness replied, that her body 

 should be touched by no other person besides the king her 

 husband : that they would go to Pegu, and that there he could 

 take what measurements he wished. The lady of the bed- 

 chamber could not persuade her to do anything else ; but she 

 at once informed the king of what had taken place , who had 

 advice of what occurred by couriers daily ; and on hearing 

 this message that the lady of the bedchamber sent him of 

 what had taken place with the queen he rejoiced greatly at it, 

 and made great pleasantries over it, and commanded that they 

 should immediately journey to Pegu, which she did : and cn 

 the way she was accompanied by all the chief men of the cities 

 and towns by which they passed, with many signs of rejoicing, 

 dances, and music, and also with many costly giits and presents, 

 until she arrived at the city of Pegu , where she disembarked 

 with the greatest majesty, pomp, and splendour that can be 

 imagined. The son and heir of the king went to receive her 

 at her disembarkation, and in all the streets through which she 

 passed she found novel forms of arches, theatricals, costly 

 objects, and various figures which the natives of the kingdoms 

 subject to the Brama had made in her honour. The king 

 came out to receive her at the gate of the palace in which she 

 was to reside, which was furnished in the most suitable style 

 with every article for the bedchamber, drawing-room, and 

 wardrobe, and everything else necessary to the wife of such 

 a wealthy and powerful monarch, and afterwards he set apart 



1 In XII. v. iii. Couto says that this word means " governor.' 3 



