TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
251 
plies the commission of a capital crime, these 
guardians of the peace are to be seen with such 
epithets as the following tattooed upon their 
breasts, “ man-killer,” “■ robber,” “ thief,” &c. 
The chief of these persons was pointed out to 
us, and was soon recognised by Mr. Judson 
as the person who had the principal charge of 
the European and American prisoners during 
the war. This was an old man of sixty, lean, 
and of a most villanous countenance. He was 
by birth of the tribe of the Kyens, had murdered 
his master, and had a large circle on each cheek, 
with the Burman words “ Lu'-that” or "man- 
killer,” in very large letters on his breast. The 
Pa-kwet are held to be infamous. Even in the 
execution of their office, they are not permitted 
to enter any house, nor in any case to come 
within the walls of the Palace. When they die 
their bodies cannot be burnt, nor the usual fu¬ 
neral rites performed, but they are interred like 
those of lepers and others held to be impure. 
The military display made by the Burmans 
on this occasion was truly contemptible. Along 
the roads which we passed, files of soldiers were 
drawn out in single ranks, each file at the dis¬ 
tance of ten or twelve feet. The arms consisted 
of alternate spears and muskets. The soldiers, 
who were without uniform, and indeed naked, 
