266 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
exhibition before strangers. He put the two 
following questions to us, for which he had evi¬ 
dently been prepared, in a voice which showed 
that the age of manhood had not yet arrived. 
“ How long have you been on your voyage 
from Rangoon ? Are the ambassadors all in 
good health ?” 
The list of our presents was read. The 
Prince accepted and ordered them to be taken 
away. Several other persons present also made 
offerings to his Highness. Betel, tobacco, and 
lapet, were presented early, and in due course, 
refreshments of fruits and sweetmeats. The 
Prince had his Wun, or Minister, who of course 
was the chief person. Through him we were 
told that we were at liberty to put any ques¬ 
tions to his Highness which we might think 
proper. It was suggested that the Prince’s age 
would be a proper one, and this was asked ac¬ 
cordingly : we took occasion to follow it up by 
some personal compliments to his Highness, 
which we were given to understand would be 
expected. Before retiring, the Prince directed 
presents to be made to us : these consisted of 
a piece of silk and a lackered box to each of 
the gentlemen, an additional box and a small 
ruby-ring being added to mine, to which was 
afterwards joined a Burman saddle, given to 
