TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
229 
the bottom of each pillar, painted of a bright 
red, the whole interior of the Palace is one 
blaze of gilding. The throne, which is at the 
back of the hall, is distinguished from the rest of 
the structure by its superior brilliancy and rich¬ 
ness of decoration. The pedestal on which it 
stands is composed of a kind of mosaic of mir¬ 
rors, coloured glass, gilding, and silver, after a 
style peculiar to the Burmans. Over it is a 
canopy richly gilt and carved, and the wall be¬ 
hind it is also highly embellished. The Palace 
is new, not having been occupied altogether 
above two years and a half; so that the gilding 
and ornaments were neither tarnished nor de¬ 
faced, as we often found to be the case in other 
places. Although little reconcilable to our no¬ 
tions of good taste in architecture, the building 
is unquestionably most splendid and brilliant; 
and I doubt whether so singular and imposing 
a royal edifice exist in any other country. It 
has the same form and proportions with that de¬ 
scribed by Colonel Symes, at Amarapura; but 
is larger, in the proportion of one hundred and 
twenty to ninety. 
There are three entrances to the Hall of Au¬ 
dience, by a flight of a few steps,—one at each 
wing, and one at the centre; the last being ap¬ 
propriated to the King alone. We entered by 
