68 
APPENDIX* 
JOHN LAIRD. 
Question. What is your name, and of what country 
are you a native ?— Answer. My name is John Laird; I 
was bbrn in the town of Forfar, county of Angus, North 
Britain. 
Q. When did you first come into the Burman domi¬ 
nions ?—- A . I came first to Rangoon in command of the 
ship Mahomed Shah in March 1820. After a stay of 
about one month, I returned to Bengal; I came back again 
to Rangoon in August or September of the same year, 
and have continued in the Burman country ever since, with 
the exception of a short absence of two months, when I 
visited Calcutta. 
Q. How have you been employed during your residence 
in this country ?— A. As a merchant and agent. 
Q. Have you resided any time at the Burman capital ? 
■— A. I went to the Burman capital, then Amarapura, 
for the first time, in December 1820, and resided there 
on that occasion about three months, when I returned 
to Rangoon, having disposed of the goods which I took 
up. I visited the capital again, then Ava, in the beginning 
of 1823, and stayed there about three months. I left Ran¬ 
goon the last time for Ava in 1824, and did not return 
until released from prison by the British army. 
Q. What took you to Ava upon this last occasion ?-— 
A. I was ordered up in chains, by the King and Prince of 
Sarawadi. 
Q. Did you go up in chains ?— A. No; I paid a bribe 
of sixty ticals to the commander of the war-boat sent from 
Ava to convey me, and was excused. 
Q. With what offence were you charged?-—A. With 
none whatever that I am aware of. I was simply told 
