TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
52 3 
head, which slants back to so singular a degree, 
as to amount nearly to mal-conformation. This 
is even still more the case with the Prince of 
Sara wadi, his full brother; and was also the case 
with the late King. I am told it is a family 
feature in the descendants of Alompra. He 
was dressed in a plain white muslin, and had on 
a profusion of gold chains, crossing both should¬ 
ers ; the buckles or clasps of these were studded 
with a few diamonds and emeralds, and some 
very large and fine uncut rubies : there was not 
a sapphire about his person—this stone does not 
seem to be much valued by the Burmans. The 
Princes who were present upon this occasion, 
were the Heir-apparent, the Prince of Sarawadi, 
the Prince of Mekara, the Queen’s brother, and 
four young Princes, brothers to the King. The 
Queen did not make her appearance. 
The crowd assembled upon the present occa¬ 
sion was by far the greatest we had seen since 
coming to Ava. Boxing and elephant-catching 
are favourite amusements with the populace ; 
and these, rather than the presence of the King 
and Court, had brought them together. There 
must have been several thousands assembled. 
The top of the wall was completely crowded, 
and so was the space between the inner pali¬ 
sade and the wall, as well as that between the 
