08O Coxs BurmMh Empire. - 
few houses or inhabitants. Since the Chiistiaii hiteiprefer who Attended 
seat of government has been removed, upon the part of Government, and who 
it is said to have been deserted; still had been despatched two'days'a-head 
the scattered religious buildings that of us to announce my approach, having 
remain extend about two miles along returned with an order for my escort 
the hanks of the river, which are of a to stop at Chegain, or whei ever else he 
moderate height and rocky. On the might meet me. The king with all 
opposite or northern shore stands the his - court are at Mhegboon, where he 
ancient city of Chegain, whose scatter- has erected a magnificent pagoda, and 
ed houses extend for three or four miles will remain uni if the next full moon, 
along the bank: it is very populous, which falls on the 11th of next month, 
and seems to have a large share of to conclude the ceremonies of consecra- 
trade. . tiou ; and is so devoutly intent on these 
On the summits of the hills near the pious offices that it is impossible for 
city are a great number of pagodas and him to yield a thought to sublunary 
religious buildings of various forms and matters, 
style of architecture, some finished with city of mregoos. 
domes, some pyramidal, some cones, February 1. About half-past nine 
■with a profusion ot gilding expended on A. m. two war-boats came down from 
them; they had been recently white- Mheghoou with the newly-appointed 
washed, and all ol them seemed in good rayhoon of Rangoon, accompanied bv 
repair; those on the hills have traverse a native Hindoo, who had formerly 
flights of steps, bounded by low para- been Shah unde? of Rangoon. The 
pet walls leading to them, which must rayhoon informed me that the may- 
have cost much labour and expense, hoen had prepared to come down to me. 
Near the river are several new ones but at the instant he was setting ofl' ? 
erecting, ^ the devotion of his present his majesty had sent for him. He had, 
majesty having occasioned a rage for therefore, deputed the rayhoon on his 
building temples and monasteries. behalf; and hoped I would- excuse him, 
amarapoorah, the CAPITAL. and proceed to Mheghoon, and that be 
In the course ot the forenoon we would undoubtedly receive me on my 
reached the city of Amarapoorah, which, arrival there. 
including the suburbs, extends four The place dignified wdth the name 
miles along the south-eastern bank of of the city of Mheghoon is an assem- 
the river, and teems with religious blage of bamboo huts, with a few' 
buildings of various shapes. The pa- wooden houses straggling along the 
lace, as seen from the river, appears a western bank of the river, for about 
confused assemblage of buildings, glit- two miles, under a range of high bar¬ 
tering with a blaze of gilding. One ren hills. At present they appear to 
part of it has a square building finished be only temporary habitations for the 
with battlements, and a flat roof with courtiers, and their followers. About 
Tuscan Pilasters at the angles, some- the centre of w hat is called the city, is 
thing in the theatrical style, and evi- a wooden palace of bis majesty’s, ex- 
dently the essay of some sinatterer in ternally of a mean appearance; and 
European, architecture: it is painted along the bank near it were ranged 
white with gilt mouldings, but is so about ten large accommodation-boats 
surrounded with trees, and the mean for the royal family. They have houses 
habitations of the natives, that it is erected on them with gilt mouldings 
but imperfectly seen from the river, and ornaments, also two large ones 
The main breadth of the river opposite with high pagodas on them for his mu- 
the city of Amarapoorah is about two jesly’s and the queen’s particular use ; 
miles; tue intermediate space, how- but I defer giving a more minute des- 
ever, at this season, is mostly filled cription of them until some future op 
ydth high sandy islands., divided from portunity offers of closer inspection. A 
each other by various channels ; at pre= little beyond his majesty’s palace is the 
sent they are under cultivation, but in site of the intended pagoda; at present 
the rains are all overflows, and are an- they are advanced but little above the 
nually changing their form and situa- foundation ; and, as the dimensions are 
tion. My guides conducted me to the verv great, it will require some years 
north=w T estern end of one of them, to finish it. His majesty holds his 
nearly opposite the centre of the city, court at present in a large one-polecl 
where they told me I must remain for tent on a sand-bank in the river oppo- 
further orders from the viceroy; the site, but nearly three-fourths of a mile 
•ast 
