168 JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
deep an impression had the superiority of Euro¬ 
pean arms produced upon the nation at large! 
In reference to this subject, the Kyi-wun ob¬ 
served with some adroitness, that it would be 
agreeable to his Majesty to know the particular 
purpose of our “ friendly visit.” Aware of the 
alarm which existed, I had been anxious for 
an opportunity of explaining the objects which 
the Mission had in view, and said at once, that 
we had come for the purpose of presenting a 
friendly letter to the King, and of making a 
convention for regulating the commerce of the 
two countries upon terms of reciprocal advan¬ 
tage, as provided for in the Treaty of Yandabo; 
and that we had no other object whatever. The 
Kyi-wun, his associates, and their followers, re¬ 
ceived this declaration with a joy which they 
could not conceal. An involuntary and general 
exclamation burst from the whole party, as if 
they had been relieved from some mighty load. 
The Kyi-wun compared the declaration now 
made with the official statements he had received 
from Rangoon and from Henzada, as well as 
with the rumours which had reached the Govern¬ 
ment from other quarters. Without such cor¬ 
roboration, our assurances would have had little 
weight; for Bur man courtiers, eminently desti¬ 
tute of candour and integrity themselves, are 
