226 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
provincial battalion of Chittagong, of whom a 
number had been taken prisoners on the Aracan 
frontier. 
Having observed that even the lowest of the 
chiefs in rank were permitted to use their um¬ 
brellas as far as the Palace gate, and were con¬ 
veyed thither in their litters, while their ele¬ 
phants and horses were allowed to advance as far 
as the front of the Rungd’hau ; and contrasting 
this with the treatment observed towards our¬ 
selves, I thought it my duty to expostulate, on 
the spot, with the chiefs who had conducted 
us; and through Mr. Judson and Hr. Price, 
gave them to understand, that the conduct they 
had pursued was unjustifiable, unbecoming, and 
contrary to the promise held out when the ar¬ 
rangement for our presentation was agreed upon. 
In the meanwhile, I was told that farther exac¬ 
tions and demands were contemplated; and I 
therefore informed the Burmese chiefs, once for 
all, that no obeisance whatever should be made 
by us except in the King’s presence, and that 
our shoes should not be taken off until we were 
upon the point of entering the Palace. They 
were also distinctly given to understand, that 
if any attempt were made to dictate to us in 
such matters, we should immediately return, 
and decline the honour of being presented alto- 
