TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
45 
of the size alluded to. Both Kanaong and 
this town are, for the Burman dominions, po¬ 
pulous places. We certainly had an opportu¬ 
nity of seeing the greater number of their in¬ 
habitants ; for men, women, and children, with¬ 
out distinction, crowded to the bank, from cu¬ 
riosity to see the steam-vessel. The character 
of the Burmans, in this respect, is at least less 
constrained than that of the Hindoos. All are 
imbued with a lively curiosity, and the women 
and children are neither shy nor timid. The 
former swam about in the river, in the even¬ 
ing, near the vessel, without seeming to be in 
the least abashed or constrained by the pre¬ 
sence of strangers. There was a greater ap¬ 
pearance of industry about Myan-aong than at 
any place we had seen. Buffaloes, oxen, and 
carts, were frequent. Still, there was little 
cultivation observed, and no neatness, comfort, 
or general indication of prosperity. A few 
Kyaongs, or monasteries, were to be seen, and 
a few temples among the trees, but none of 
any distinction for magnitude or architecture. 
Two or three good wooden bridges were no¬ 
ticed, but invariably, as every where else, lead¬ 
ing to a monastery or temple. Kanaong, with 
its district, is the assignment for the mainte¬ 
nance of his Majesty’s third queen, who takes 
