TO THE COURT OF AYA. 433 
forward, nor at any time, indeed, publicly 
mentioned. The question of paying interest, 
which had been before suggested by the same 
officers, was evaded upon this occasion. These 
sentiments were communicated to Mr. Judson 
only, and were accompanied, as usual, by many 
compliments to this gentleman. They did not 
hesitate to declare to him, to his face, that he 
was a person of the utmost prudence, wisdom, 
and discretion, and they repeatedly addressed 
him by the name of Pun-gyi, or 44 holy man,” 
the most usual appellation of the Burman priest¬ 
hood. It was in vain to attempt any rational 
answer. They had been commanded to deliver 
a certain message, and, without any regard to 
its reasonableness or propriety, they thought it 
their duty to insist upon and enforce it. 
In our ride this morning, Mr. Chester and I 
visited a village of lepers, consisting of about 
twenty houses. Many of the inhabitants were 
out begging at a considerable distance above 
Ava, where rice was said to be somewhat cheaper 
than in the town itself, and therefore charity 
more easily practised. About one-half the in¬ 
habitants of this hamlet, we were told, were af¬ 
fected with the malady. The disease, which 
the Burmans call Anu, is very frequent in the 
country. It is the Lepra Arabam , or Ele- 
vol. i. 2 F 
