APPENDIX. 
81 
quiry, and seen great quantities exported. I consider, 
the quantity cannot be less than seventy thousand Bengal 
bales, of three hundred pounds each. 
Q. Do you know any thing of the quality of this 
cotton, and whether it be cleaned, or goes in the seed P 
— A. The greater part of it is cleaned : all that is sent 
on horseback is so. The cotton of the lower provinces is 
of a short staple, that of the upper long, and of the finest 
texture. 
Q. Did you ever hear that the cotton of Pegu is 
sent to Chittagong and Dacca?— A. I have understood it 
is, and that from it is manufactured the fine Dacca muslin. 
Q. Do you know any thing of the trade carried on with 
the country of the Shans, or, as it is called by Europeans, 
the kingdom of Lao?— A. Yes. The Shans repair annu¬ 
ally, in the dry season, to the Burman country, bringing 
with them, stick-lac, bees’ wax, a yellow dye-wood, various 
drugs and gums, the names of which I do not know ; raw 
silk, lacker-ware, ready-made clothes, consisting of jackets 
stuffed with cotton; onions, and garlic, turmeric, and coarse 
cane-sugar in cakes. Stick-lac is the principal article. The 
returns are dry fish and nappi, with salt. 
Q. Where are the fairs held to which the people resort ? 
—A. The chief fair is held at a place called Plek, from 
six to eight miles south of Ava, on a small river which falls 
into the Ira wadi under the walls of the capital. I have 
been there purchasing stick-lac. The next largest fair is 
at the Dagon Pagoda, near Rangoon. There are several 
minor ones along the east bank of the Irawadi. 
Q. You have stated you were imprisoned on the 28th 
May ?— A. Yes. 
Q. How were you arrested ?— A. I was called to the 
palace by a messenger, who stated that the King wished to 
see me. When I arrived there, I was interrogated by a 
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