36 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
bility of fibre which distinguishes the natives 
of a tropical from those of a temperate region, 
and which I have no where seen more remark¬ 
able than among the Hindoo Chinese races. 
In these I have seen the elbow joint bent back 
in so singular a manner, as to appear like a 
partial dislocation or malconformation of the 
part. 
No public question was discussed at this 
meeting, except a few words said respecting 
the presents for the King, and the number and 
rank of the persons composing the Mission,— 
points which were adverted to by the Wungyi 
with a decorum and delicacy very favourably 
contrasted with what I had experienced on the 
same subjects in Siam. During our visit, 
which lasted an hour and a half, the Wungyi 
conversed very familiarly on every topic which 
presented itself. He spoke freely of himself 
and his situation, and without any Oriental fas¬ 
tidiousness,—for that fastidiousness does not 
belong to the character of the Burmans,—of 
his wife and daughter. In speaking of the 
first, who is said to exercise a great influence 
over him, he called her the Governess (Men- 
ga-ta, female governor). His daughter, he 
told us, was his only child, at least by his wife. 
He said she had been brought up in the palace 
