TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
309 
vinced of his potency, but hoped, at the same 
time, our voluntary offer would not be taken in 
bad part. He answers, 4 See these arms and this 
thigh(drawing the sleeves of his vesture over 
his shoulders, and tucking the lower part up to 
his crutch)— 4 amongst a thousand you won’t see 
my match. I myself can crush a hundred such as 
the King of Pegu. I protest, and God knows the 
truth of my assertion, that state is a burthen to 
me; ’tis a confinement which I endure only on 
account of the necessity there is for it towards 
the support of Government. I have carried my 
arms to the confines of China, the King of which 
country has sent me a rich present of curious 
things’ (several of which he showed me); 6 on the 
other quarter, 1 have reduced to my subjection 
the major part of the kingdom of Cassay, whose 
heir I have taken captive—see, there he sits be¬ 
hind you. I have also some of the Princesses in 
my court—they sit yonder. (Then says he to 
them, 4 Come forth !’ on which they passed before 
us.) 4 1 have upwards of a hundred near relations; 
amongst the rest an own brother—there he sits 
(pointing to him); and nine children, two of them 
men grown—there they are: they have behaved 
well in the late war; the third a youth—here he 
is; the rest are but young. 5 ” In this account, 
which is graphic and interesting, the great Alom- 
pra appears as little better than a barbarian and a 
