£28 JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
induce us to do so.* That portion of the Pa¬ 
lace which contains the Hall of Audience, con¬ 
sists of a centre and two wings ; the first con¬ 
taining the throne, and directly fronting the 
outer gates of the enclosure. The building is 
entirely of wood, with the exception of its 
many roofs, which are covered with plates of 
tin, in lieu of tiles. Over the centre is a tall 
and handsome spire, called by the Burmans a 
Pyat-thad, crowned by the Ti, or iron umbrel¬ 
la, which is an exclusive ornament of the Tem¬ 
ple and Palace. The Hall of Audience is with¬ 
out walls, and open all around, except where 
the throne is placed. The roof is supported by 
a great number of handsome pillars, and is richly 
and tastefully carved. The whole fabric is erect¬ 
ed upon a terrace of solid stone and lime, ten 
or twelve feet high, which constitutes the floor: 
this is so smooth, even, and highly polished, that 
I mistook it at first for white marble. With the 
exception of about fourteen or fifteen inches at 
* My predecessor, Colonel Syme, had been compelled, by 
the same class of officers, to make repeated obeisances long be¬ 
fore he reached the Palace. In dictating these the Burmese 
officers exhibited a degree of insolence which was not observ¬ 
ed in our case. To rid himself of their importunity, he was 
obliged to threaten returning back, and to decline being pre¬ 
sented altogether. 
