TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
227 
gether. Many efforts were made, notwithstand¬ 
ing, to induce us to make an obeisance upon 
the first view of the throne; and we were as¬ 
sured that such homage would not be paid to 
the mere walls of the Palace, as the King him¬ 
self would unquestionably be present, and front¬ 
ing us just as we should enter the gate of the 
enclosure. Our previous information convinced 
us that there was no foundation for this asser¬ 
tion ; and being firm in our refusal, the Bur¬ 
mese officers at length desisted from farther at¬ 
tempts to over-persuade us. The procession 
moved on from the Rungd’hau, preceded by a 
Nakand’hau. I had requested a gold or silver 
salver to carry the letter of the Governor-Ge¬ 
neral, which was refused. An old wooden one 
was brought, of which the gilding was defaced. 
This was declined, and I therefore requested 
Mr. Montmorency to carry the letter, and to 
walk by my side in the procession. The Pa¬ 
lace, besides the palisade, is surrounded in every 
direction by an inner wall of brick, which is 
double on the eastern or principal front; so 
that in this direction there are three gateways. 
At each of these the procession halted, and at 
each the Nakand’hau prostrated himself, hoping 
we might be induced to follow him by making 
an obeisance. Nothing, however, was said to 
q 2 
