252 JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
with the exception of a scanty lower garment, 
and a small handkerchief round the head, sat 
down, having the stock of the muskets on the 
ground, and the muzzle a little raised from it, 
and supported by two cross-sticks. The ap¬ 
pearance of the men showed that no selection 
had been made: they literally appeared no bet¬ 
ter than so many day-labourers, of all sizes, ages, 
and appearances, taken at hap-hazard from the 
common bazar. The Siamese soldiery, bad as 
they were, and grotesque as was their uniform, 
were better armed and accoutred, and in every 
respect made a better appearance. As to the 
troops of Cochin China, the Burman soldiery 
are just as far below these, as they, in their 
turn, are inferior to the best disciplined troops 
of Europe. This morning, when preparation 
was making for a similar festival, I counted the 
number of firelocks, which, widely dispersed 
along the two sides of the palisade which we 
had passed the day before, had then the appear¬ 
ance of being numerous : they amounted exactly 
to one hundred and eighty. 
In passing out of the gate which we had en¬ 
tered, we observed a few cannon. One brass 
gun lying on the ground inside of the gate was 
of great size; but its walls were superfluously 
thick, and its calibre did not seem to exceed 
