96 
APPENDIX. 
nothing of war, but by the levy of troops and contributions. 
When in prison, I heard a royal edict repeated by one of 
the town-secretaries within the prison-yard. It was when 
the British army had reached Sarwa. It stated that, 
whereas “ the rebel strangers” had taken possession of 
Rangoon, and issued their orders, in defiance of the King’s 
authority in the lower countries, his Majesty would take 
the field in person, with 100,000 Burmans and 100,000 
Shans; and it proceeded to make arrangements for his 
temporary absence. This was one of five or six edicts of 
the same nature, respecting his Majesty’s departure from 
Ava to conduct the war in person. 
Q. What was the reason of his Majesty not proceeding 
in person, in conformity with these edicts?— A. I do not 
believe that he ever seriously intended to march. The 
proposal to do so was intended to encourage the people, 
and an artifice to get some of the courtiers to volunteer 
their services. 
Q. Did you ever hear what took place between the 
King and the Prince of Sara wadi, when the latter was 
proceeding to take the command of the army to oppose 
the English?— A. It was generally stated and believed, 
that the Prince said to his Majesty, that after driving 
the English out of the country, he trusted he would 
not be stopped, but allowed to pursue them into Bengal. 
This was thrown out with the hope of getting a favou¬ 
rable answer from the King, who only smiled, however, 
without giving any direct reply. 
Q. What opinion did the Burmans entertain of the 
British Sepoys previous to the war?— -A. They had a con¬ 
temptible opinion of the Hindus, and the Mohammedans 
of Hindostan also, but did not understand what a Sepoy 
meant. I was frequently asked by the Government offi- 
