TO THE COURT OF AY A. 
369 
CHAPTER VIII. 
Excursion to the Sagaing Hills.—Description of Temples and 
Monasteries upon them.—Conference.—Offence given by 
the Soldiers of the Escort to the King.—Burman Govern¬ 
ment hints at its desire to send an Embassy to England.— 
Character of a Burmese Courtier.—Description of a Tem¬ 
ple constructed by the late King of Ava, and its history.— 
Conference.—Leave given to Botanize in the neighbouring 
Mountains.—King incensed at his Courtiers, on hearing 
the result of the Negotiation.—Another Conference. 
Nov. 12 .— Dr. Wallich and I ascended, this 
morning, one of the highest parts of the Sagaing 
range of mountains. The top of the hill, which 
we reached, contains the Temple of Paung-nya, 
and is certainly not less than five hundred feet 
above the level of the Ira wadi. From this spot 
we had a noble prospect, embracing many reaches 
of the river, the towns of Amarapura, Ava, and 
Sagaing. On both sides of the Irawadi there 
are a number of lakes, which we had not ob¬ 
served before. The numerous temples formed 
a remarkable feature of the landscape. On the 
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VOL. I. 
