20 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
not to have ceased to influence it down to the 
present day. These causes are, without doubt, 
bad government in a thousand shapes; for the 
country seems to possess, in an eminent degree, 
the advantages of a fertile soil, a favourable cli¬ 
mate, and ready communication. On the banks 
of the Menam in Siam, as well as those of the 
river of Saigun in Kamboja, extensive culti¬ 
vation commences ten miles above their em¬ 
bouchures. At the distance of one hundred 
and twenty miles from the sea, there is still no 
such appearance in the Irawadi. One would 
be tempted to believe, from this circumstance, 
that the Governments of Siam and Cochin 
China were less favourable to industry than 
that of Ava. But in reality, after all, I believe 
there is no great difference between them, the 
one being as bad as the other. 
In the afternoon we paid a visit to the 
Wungyi, and were received with marked po¬ 
liteness and attention. A war-boat was sent to 
convey us. A band of music was playing as 
we landed, and a set of dancing-girls were ex¬ 
hibiting in the place where we were received. 
We found the great man seated under a tem¬ 
porary canopy erected for the occasion, sur¬ 
rounded by five or six chiefs, the principal of 
whom was the intended Myowun, or Governor, 
