TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
109 
number of temples is quite surprising. When 
the Burmans themselves talk of things that are 
countless, it is a favourite figure to say that 
they are as numerous as the temples of Pugan. 
They are of all sizes, and in various states of 
preservation. Some have been restored, and are 
still used as places of worship ; others are tole¬ 
rably complete, though neglected ; but many 
are mere ruins, and a considerable number are 
but heaps of mouldering brick. 
In the evening, when I returned to the 
steam-vessel, I found the old Myowun of Bas- 
sien waiting for me. He had with him the 
royal order for the approach of the Mission to 
Ava. This was, according to custom, a narrow 
palm leaf, about three feet long, pointed at both 
ends—a shape which marks a royal mandate, 
and the forging of which is an act of high trea¬ 
son. The following is a literal translation of 
this document. 
“ Ne-myo-men-k’haong Kyan-the.* In re¬ 
gard to conducting to the golden feet the Eng¬ 
lish chief, he being an envoy who has come 
from a far country, you are to proceed along 
with him, sending a boat and people at the 
end of every two stages, saying what day you 
* The name of our conductor, the ex-Governor of Bassien. 
