TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
235 
ings of expiation, viz. a golden pyramid, a silver 
pyramid, golden flowers, silver flowers, a golden 
cup, a silver cup, some fine cloths,” &c. &c. &c. 
When the Governor-General’s presents were 
presented, the address was exactly in the same 
language; with this exception, that for the words 
“Your Majesty’s servant,” were substituted “the 
English Ruler of India.” 
When the name of each suppliant was pro¬ 
nounced, the party took a few grains of parched 
rice between the hands and made the customary 
prostration, being the acknowledged token of 
homage and submission. This ceremony, al¬ 
though insisted upon with Colonel Symes and 
the gentlemen who accompanied him, was not 
proposed to us, and we made no acknowledge¬ 
ment whatever when the reading of the list of 
the Governor-General’s presents was completed. 
We were indeed ignorant at the time of all that 
was said, from our want of acquaintance with 
the language. Dr. Price, who acted as my in¬ 
terpreter, did not explain to me what passed, 
and probably did not himself comprehend the 
nature of the language made use of, from the 
rapid manner in which the ceremony was gone 
through. When the list of the Governor-Ge¬ 
neral’s presents to the Queen were read, all that 
