TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
443 
I propose now that the original treaty should 
be in Barman only.—- B . We agree to this, but 
request you will furnish us, at the next con¬ 
ference, with an attested English translation.— 
E. I will be sure to supply you with the trans¬ 
lation you require.” 
The copyists now began to make drafts of 
the treaty, which, from the tedious manner in 
which they proceeded, took up nearly three 
hours, during which time, little or no other 
business was transacted. My chief motives for 
proposing a Burman original copy of the treaty 
only, I have expressed in my observations to 
the Atwenwuns. In addition to these, I may 
state, that so many Burman idioms, and so much 
amplification had been introduced by the chiefs, 
from time to time, that I found it would be 
very difficult to make a fair translation in to¬ 
lerably good English, that would correspond 
strictly with the Burman version. 
B. The treaty is now nearly ready for seal 
and signature. You intimated to us at the last 
meeting, that, whatever might be the result of 
the commercial negotiation, the friendship be¬ 
tween the two nations should not be inter¬ 
rupted. We beg you now to inform us, by 
what means you propose to cement the friend¬ 
ship you alluded to, and to furnish us with 
