496 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
question had engaged to give instructions in 
certain matters. Our reason for saying so much 
upon this subject is, that when you are gone, 
the King may possibly inquire for this person, 
and we shall be involved in trouble if we can¬ 
not render a satisfactory account of him. 
E . All that it is necessary to say to the 
King is, that this individual was a prisoner of 
war, and intitled by treaty to his release.” 
On receiving this explanation, the At wen - 
wuns got up, charged the two interpreters 
with not translating properly, laughed very 
heartily, and said they were quite satisfied. In 
this humour they took leave. 
Dec. 3 .—Through the night of the 1st, a 
fire broke out in the populous suburb which 
lies between the walls of the town and the 
little river, and property to a considerable value 
was destroyed. The house of the widow of 
the Saya-wungyi, who had been the King’s 
tutor and favourite, was in great danger; and 
this old lady, who had the reputation of being 
very frugal, if not avaricious, irritated at her 
loss, repaired forthwith to the King, and made 
complaint that, during the conflagration, the 
Ministers, and especially Kaulen Mengyi, who 
was her husband’s successor, and of whom she 
was very jealous, were not at their posts ; for it 
