TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
28 5 
monasteries and temples are separate and dis¬ 
tinct, and those who have power over the wealth 
of the country alone can endow the former. In 
Siam it is the fashion for every male inhabitant 
to enter the priesthood once in his life, however 
short the period. This custom does not exist 
among the Burmans. 
On our return home from our visit to the 
Queen’s brother, we inspected what is called 
his Burmese Majesty’s Water-palace. It is a 
splendid bauble, composed of two long vessels, 
joined together by a platform, the prow and 
stern of each representing a fabulous animal, 
richly carved and ornamented. Over the vessels 
there is a house of several apartments, the hall 
of audience containing the throne, being in 
front. The many-storied roof of the house is 
covered with plates of tin, and terminates in a 
spire of fifteen or sixteen feet high. The exte¬ 
rior of the vessels, the house and spire, are all 
richly gilt. The whole length of the Palace is 
one hundred and two feet, and its greatest 
breadth, including a gallery overhanging the 
vessels all round, forty-four feet. The Wun- 
dauk of his Majesty’s fleet, a person of no small 
consequence, accompanied us for the purpose of 
showing the Palace. This person is the Ad¬ 
miral of all his Majesty’s boats, whether of war 
