Cox’s Burmhan Empire, 
tiers of superior rank, were dressed in 
red velvet gowns, like that worn by the 
mayhoon ; the caps of the princes and 
chobwas, varying according to their 
rank; which is further denoted by the 
gold chains they wear. The inferior 
courtiers’ dress and caps were made of 
satin trimmed with narrow gold lace, 
but in form the same as the viceroy^. 
In the avenue immediately fronting the 
throne, was placed, first, the stands 
with the letters and presents in a row, 
on a line with that of the princes; next 
the chests of treasure, then ,the coin¬ 
ing machinery. The carriage was 
drawn up close to the outside of the 
arcade, about forty feet to the eastward 
of the throne, and within view of his 
majesty. In the rear of the treasure 
chests, and immediately in front of the 
throne, at the distance of about sixty 
feet from it, I and my suite were seated. 
About ten feet in front of me, to the 
left, was the mayhoon, or viceroy; and 
in a line with me to the left the ray- 
hoon of Rangoon. In front, a little to 
the left also, were two sandogans; and 
in the rear, to the right, the shabnnder 
Jhansey. After I had been seated 
about twenty minutes, a man, dressed 
in white, came into the enclosed place 
within the throne from the rear, as if 
to arrange the cushions on it, and im¬ 
mediately after he had retired, his ma¬ 
jesty entered, and seated himself on 
the throne. He was dressed in white 
muslin with a gold border, and had on 
a crown shaped something like a mitre, 
about fifteen iaches in height, but how 
ornamented I was too distant to ob¬ 
serve. In his hand he had a small 
chowrie, made of peacocks’ quills, with 
which he fanned away the dies ; no one 
remained in the pulpit with him. He 
appeared rather lusty, his countenance 
open, and complexion rather fairer 
than the Burmhans in general, with a 
thin grey beard, and altogether like a 
Chinese of the southern part of the 
empire. When seated, lie asked in a 
clear and audible voice, which was the 
Resident ? Then, who was the gentle¬ 
man next me ? He then asked, whether 
my epaulets and cockade were insignia 
of my rank ? Who were the persons 
attending in my suite ? What was in the 
chests ? What the use of the large blocks 
of timber, &c.? He was then pleased 
to say, that he understood I was a sen¬ 
sible and polite gentleman; upon which 
I placed my hand on my breast, and 
bowed my head. He immediately said 
44 Ah'! that is the manner in which the 
m 
Europeans salute their sovereigns. The 
hand placed on the breast means that 
theirTespeet flows from the heart.” To 
which the viceroy replied in the affir¬ 
mative. The sandogan, first prostra¬ 
ting himself three times, then read from 
a taar leaf, in a singing tone, an ac¬ 
count of the presents. After sitting 
about twenty minutes, the king, ad¬ 
dressing himself to the viceroy, said, 
41 The weather is very warm, I must 
retire, take care of him.” He then 
rose from the throne, and retired to his 
palace in the rear. .He was answered 
sometimes by Mr. Moncourtuse, some¬ 
times by the viceroy, and sometimes by 
the rayhoon. A ter he had retired., 
every one arranged their legs at their 
ease ; the eyes of the court were turned 
on us, and restraint was banished. The 
princes, about five minutes afterwards, 
got up and retired without ceremony ; 
they were all bare-footed. Tile gra¬ 
cious reception I had met with from his 
majesty, seemed to have diffused a ge¬ 
neral satisfaction throughout the court; 
and after a quarter of an hour had 
elapsed, a number of pages, in satin 
gowns and caps, brought in Burmhan 
trays of sweetmeats. These trays were 
of wood, painted red, and gilt; they 
were about eighteen inches in height, 
the side supporters little turned balus¬ 
trades, united at bottom by a circular 
rim. The sweatmeats were piled up 
in little china saucers, consisting of 
country-made confectionary, covered 
with conical covers of wicker-work, 
lacquered red and gilt. Twelve of 
these trays were placed before me and 
Mr. Burnett, one of them immediately 
opposite, filled with china confectionary, 
considered a rarity here. Next, every 
one of my attendants had a tray placed 
before him, then the chobwas, the 
wlioonghees, &c., each a tray served 
to them in turn, according to their rank, 
until the whole court was served. They 
pressed me to eat, and to please them I 
tasted of almost every dish on the trays 
before me. Tea'was then made and 
presented, the rayhoon and shabunder 
Jhansey serving us. Then trays of 
pawn leaf, with its appendages, were 
served; towards the conclusion, the 
courtiers pocketed the remainder of the 
sweatmeats. &c. and we were told we 
might retire. 
About four o’clock in the evening 
his majesty sent for Mr. Moncourtuse 
and Mr. Rowland, my private inter¬ 
preter, in order, as he was pleased to 
say, that they might hear fromhimselt 
his 
