TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
25 
ordinary boats. His retinue could not be less 
than between four and five hundred men. He 
was received under an awning on the poop of 
the steam-vessel. He had not been long seated 
here, when a squall and heavy rain came on. 
I suggested to his Excellency the convenience 
of going below, which he long resisted, under 
the apprehension of committing his dignity by 
placing himself in a situation where persons 
might tread over his head, for this singular an¬ 
tipathy is common to the Burmese and Sia¬ 
mese. The prejudice is more especially direct¬ 
ed against the fair sex—a pretty conclusive 
proof of the estimation in which they are held. 
His Excellency seriously demanded to know 
whether any woman had ever trod upon the 
poop ; and being assured in the negative, he 
consented at length to enter the cabin. 
He was no sooner seated here, than he en¬ 
tered upon the discussion of public matters ; 
and being prepared with a written memoran¬ 
dum of the principal objects which he desired 
to introduce, he placed it on the table before 
him. He was assisted by a secretary of the 
Lutdau,* another secretary, and the Akunwun 
of Pegu; but the first of these took the most 
'* Literally, the Royal Hall, or Chamber ; but properly, 
the name of the principal Council of Ministers. 
