320 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
and straight. The posterior and interior surface 
of the ears, with the inside of the external ear? 
were completely covered with hair of the same 
description as that on the face, and about eight 
inches long: it was this chiefly which contri¬ 
buted to give his whole appearance at first sight 
an unnatural and almost inhuman aspect. He 
may be strictly said to have had neither eye¬ 
lashes, eyebrows, nor beard, or at least they were 
supplanted by the same silky hair which enve¬ 
loped the whole face. He stated, that when a 
child the whole of this singular covering was 
much fairer than at present. The whole body, 
with the exception of the hands and feet, was 
covered with hair of the same texture and co¬ 
lour as that now described, but generally less 
abundant: it was most plentiful over the spine 
and shoulders, where it was jive inches long : over 
the breast it was about jour inches: it was most 
scanty on the fore-arms, the legs, thighs, and 
abdomen. We thought it not improbable that 
this singular integument might be periodically 
or occasionally shed; and inquired, but there 
was no ground for this surmise ;—it was quite 
permanent. 
Although but thirty years of age, Shwe-maong 
had, in some respects, the appearance of a man 
of fifty-five or sixty : this was owing to a singu- 
