TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
241 
to make his Majesty’s seat perfectly safe and 
comfortable. When the English arrived at Sar- 
wa, this person had a brother there who sub¬ 
mitted to their authority. This treasonable pro¬ 
ceeding becoming known at Court, the favou¬ 
rite was degraded and put in irons, as well as 
deprived of a title and assignment of land which 
he enjoyed for his services. His Majesty has 
at present no human vehicle of this description. 
I ought to observe, that the practice of riding 
on a man’s shoulders is not peculiar to his pre¬ 
sent Majesty, but has often been practised by 
other full-grown persons of the Royal blood. 
The King’s natural disposition is admitted to 
be kind and benevolent, and, considering the 
temptations by which he is surrounded, he has 
certainly been guilty of few excesses. In point 
of talents, he is greatly inferior to his immedi¬ 
ate predecessor, and, indeed, to most or all of 
the princes of the house of Alompra. His per¬ 
ception is indeed sufficiently quick, but his cu¬ 
riosity, which is restless, is too easily gratified. 
With an easy temper, and with too little firm¬ 
ness or strength of mind to think or act for 
himself, he is readily led by the ruling favou¬ 
rite of the time. He is well acquainted with 
the popular literature of the Burmans, and reads, 
or rather hears a great deal read to him. He 
VOL. i. 
R 
