TO THE COURT OF AY A. 
75 
Ava who had the reputation of having a fami¬ 
liar spirit, in order to put a spell on the foreign¬ 
ers, and, as it was said, unman them. These 
females, who rather labour under some mental 
derangement than are impostors, are called by 
the Burmans Nat-kadau, or female nats. They 
profess to hold an intercourse with the demi¬ 
gods of that name, and to be inspired by them 
with supernatural powers. The presence of 
such persons was known to the British army ; 
and among the wounded, after the action at 
Simbike, there was found a young girl of fifteen 
or sixteen years of age, dressed in male attire, 
believed to be one of them. Her sex was re¬ 
cognised, and attention was paid to her; but 
she expired in half an hour after being taken 
prisoner. Lieutenant Montmorency told me, 
that he had seen this poor creature ; that she 
had received wounds in the neck and head, and 
held up both her hands, making a shiho , or Bur- 
man obeisance, to every one that from pity or 
curiosity came to see her. 
We anchored last night ten miles above 
Prome. This morning, at eight o’clock, we 
passed the village of Kama, on the western 
bank, (Pali, desire,) which formed the line of 
demarcation between the English and Burmese 
armies during the armistice which took place 
