TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
C 29S 
ter is considered beneath the rank, and contrary 
to the duty of the priesthood, who are to be 
supposed constantly engaged in religious medi¬ 
tation, and holding the vanities of the world in 
contempt. 
After the pile was ignited, we retired to the 
shed where refreshments were provided for us, 
and where we were obliged to stay for an hour, 
until the burning of the body was completed. 
During the ceremony, we were introduced to 
the Wungyi Kaulen Mengyi, and the Atwen- 
wun Maongza. The latter was a highly re¬ 
spectable and intelligent individual. He had 
acquired some knowledge of geography, and a 
considerable stock of information upon general 
questions, chiefly from the conversation of the 
American missionaries. He spoke familiarly of 
the Grand Lama, and the Buddhism of the 
nations to the north of Hindostan. Having 
never before heard that the followers of Gau¬ 
tama to the eastward were aware of the exist¬ 
ence of a form of worship similar to their own 
among the Tartar nations, I inquired into the 
sources of his knowledge : they were entirely 
derived from European information; and he 
mentioned to me the mission of Captain Turner 
to Thibet, quoting the Burman year in which 
it had taken place. Among those who gave us 
