112 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
apex, represents the fabulous bird which is the 
standard of the empire. 
The measures of capacity are as follow :— 
2 Lamyets . . = . 1 Lame. 
2 Lames 
1 Sale. 
1 Pyi. 
1 Sarot. 
1 Sait. 
1 Ten. 
4 Sales 
2 Pyis 
2 Sarots 
4 Saits 
This last measure is what is usually called by 
us “ a basket/ 5 and ought to weigh 16 viss of 
clean rice, or 58|lbs. Avoirdupois: it has com¬ 
monly been reckoned at half-a-cwt. All grains, 
pulses, certain fruits, natron, salt, and lime, are 
bought and sold by measure—other commodities 
by weight. 
Of navigation, or geography, the Burmese are, 
of course, supremely ignorant. Nearly the whole 
extent of their foreign adventures is bounded to 
the south by Prince of Wales’s Island, and to 
the north by the Hoogley. To these places, but 
especially to the latter, they make annual voyages 
in the fine season, creeping all the while along the 
coast, and in sight of it; and in their adventures 
to Calcutta, commonly seeking protection from 
the open sea in the internal navigation of the 
Sunderbunds. 
The possession of a sea-coast, comprehending at 
least one-third of the Bay of Bengal, with five 
good harbours and several navigable rivers, it 
