TO THE COURT OF AVA. 275 
male and the other in female attire, were in ad¬ 
vance, acting a kind of Burman opera. The 
hall was crowded with chiefs, and towards the 
back part of it were a number of their wives 
and daughters. The Queen's brother himself 
made his appearance almost immediately. A 
richly decorated couch, on which he commonly 
sits, was at the back of the hall; but instead of 
occupying it, he placed himself upon the floor, 
on the lowest of two cushions, and exactly 
upon a level with us. His attitude was the 
most respectful possible: he was upon his knees? 
resting himself upon his heels, so as effectually 
to keep the soles of his feet out of view—a 
point of indispensable etiquette towards visitors 
of any respectability. We were quite unpre¬ 
pared for so much condescension. We had 
reckoned at least upon a cold and haughty de¬ 
meanour, and even thought it possible that the 
favourite might display some of the assumption 
of an upstart, but were agreeably disappointed. 
His wife and daughter followed him into the 
hall, and seated themselves to his right hand, 
but farther back. The daughter was a very 
handsome young woman, about seventeen or 
eighteen years of age, and understood to be en¬ 
gaged in marriage to the Prince of Mendong, 
a half-brother of the King. He asked the 
t 2 
