108 
APPENDIX. 
Burmans have been conquered, and know it. They 
should not be reminded of it by haughtiness of conduct, 
or assumption of superiority on the part of the British 
officers. Stickling for rank or precedence is generally not 
necessary at the Court of Ava, or, at least, more is to 
be lost than gained by entering into a contention with 
the Court upon such minute points. Should the Burmese 
discover that the British envoy is disposed to contend on 
questions of etiquette, it would arouse their jealousy* 
They will imagine that he has been set over them as a 
master, and will be disposed to dispute every point with 
him. It should be recollected, that the present King is 
himself generally impatient of forms, of an open and 
playful disposition, easy of access, and disposed to admit 
familiarity of intercourse. I do not say that this will be 
the case in the beginning; it is very probable that he will 
at first consider it necessary to be reserved until he knows 
the terms on which he is to stand with the representatives 
of the British Government. The Burman Court will cer¬ 
tainly, for some time, be suspicious concerning the motives 
of his appointment. 
Q. You have read the depositions of John Baretto, and 
of Jeronimo De Cruz, which I have handed to you?— 
A. Yes ; I have. 
Q. What do you think of them ?— A. There are some 
points to which I cannot speak, but in general they appear 
to me to be very correct. 
Q. Are you acquainted with these two individuals ?— A. 
I know John Baretto slightly; the other, not at all. 
Q. Are you of opinion that there will be war between 
the Burmese and Siamese?— A. Immediately before leav¬ 
ing Ava, I heard it frequently asserted by the public 
officers of the Government, that a war with Siam would, 
under present circumstances, be highly desirable. They 
