4 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
The torrent here is very rapid,—so much so, that 
boats can with great difficulty stem the stream. 
The lesser town, which forms the north-east angle, 
comprehends one-half of the north and one-third 
of the east faces : the wall round it is evidently 
better constructed than that of the large town. 
The ditch on the south and west faces of it is also 
broader and deeper, and when full in the wet sea¬ 
son is not to be forded. There are, however, three 
causeways across it which it would take some time 
to destroy, in case of a sudden attack. The lesser 
town is mostly occupied by the palace; the Rung- 
d’hau, or hall of justice; the Lut-d’hau, or council 
chamber; the arsenal, and the habitations of a few 
courtiers of distinction. There is a strong well- 
built wall, about twenty feet in height, surround¬ 
ing the square in which these are situated. On 
the outside of this wall, and at no great distance, 
there is a teak-wood stockade of the same height 
as the wall. The Xrawadi opposite the Manaong 
gate, or that fronting the town of Sagaing, is one 
thousand and ninety-four yards broad.” 
The circumference of Ava round the walls, and 
excluding the suburbs, is about five and a half 
miles. In general, the houses are mere huts, 
thatched with grass. Some of the dwellings of 
the chiefs are constructed of planks, and tiled, 
and there are probably in all not half-a-dozen 
houses constructed of brick and mortar. Poor as 
the houses are, they are thinly scattered over the 
