Cox's Burmhcm Empire. 587 
Olliers of the same kind and quality 
arranged on the floor ; also many which 
{hey said were of solid gold, but on 
examination we found them less valu¬ 
able ; there were also two rows of about 
a dozen larger images of alabaster, from 
two to four feet in height, well gilt, and 
burnished. These were of that remark¬ 
able kind which I have before noticed 
in this diary ; their cast of features 
and hair being precisely that of the 
Abyssinian negroes ; all the others were 
of Indian origin (but I shall have oc¬ 
casion to discuss this subject more at 
large in another place.) There were 
also several gilt metal flat caskets, said 
to contain gold and precious stones ; 
Mr. Burnett saw the contents of two 
or three, though I did not; in them 
were several coloured stones, none 
above ten or fifteen carats weight, set 
in gilt foil. There were also several 
piles of bricks, slabs of coloured glass, 
and white chat tabs, such as are used 
by the royal family; and, lastly one 
of Dr. Priestley’s machines for impreg¬ 
nating water with fixed air. On the 
opposite side in another shade, was an 
image of a deity in a portable temple, 
noth poles fixed to it for four bearers, 
which we were informed were suffici¬ 
ent when his godsliip was in good hu¬ 
mour, but when displeased, not all the 
power of the Burmhan empire could 
move if. Many miraculous cures are 
ascribed to the power of this deity ; in 
pity to the multitude, it is therefore 
hoped that his majesty will not immure 
it in the vaults of the new temple. In 
a separate shade, in a moveable wooden- 
house which travels on wheels, is a print 
of the foot of Gaud m a, in a slab of 
marble, from the heel to the toe. It is 
about three feet in length and of a 
proportional breadth ; but, the history 
of this impression I did not learn, as 
my conductors were in haste to go 
home. At the gate of this enclosure, 
the sanctified ground terminating, we 
again put on our shoes and descended 
towards the river, passing the looto in 
our way back to the boats. Round the 
looto were seated a great number of the 
country guards with their arms piled, 
their appearance much the same as the 
rabble infantry of the native powers in 
India. The raylsoon desired permis¬ 
sion to return to his own house, and 
we being embarked in the boats as we 
came, were soon landed at our own. 
EATING HORSE FLESH. 
April 9. In the forenoon died one of 
the horses presented me by the whoou- 
gce, the carcase was begged by the Burin- 
bans to eat. The tribe of smiths, includ- 
iugall the artificers in metals, are parti¬ 
cularly fond of horse-flesh, supposing 
it best calculated to recruit the strength 
wasted by working at their forges. Ani¬ 
mals that have died from disease are, in 
general, eaten by the inhabitants of the 
country who are fond of flesh ; but as 
metempsychosists, they are prohibited 
from killing animals for food. In this 
they resemble their neighbours the 
Chinese; and I apprehend this filthy 
custom of eating the flesh of diseased 
animals is the cause of a dreadful dis¬ 
order which attacks the extremities 
with ulcerous sores, which soon morti¬ 
fy, and leave those who survive dis¬ 
gusting and mutilated objects. The 
beggars of the country are chiefly com¬ 
posed of this class, and wander about 
the country in groups; assembling at 
the feasts of the principal pagodas, 
where they are relieved by the bounty 
of the devout and humane. Coming 
up the river we met two or three squa¬ 
drons of little boats belonging to these 
wretched pilgrims, going with their fa¬ 
milies to the southward; except these 
it is rare to see a beggar in the Burm- 
lian dominions. They seem to be li¬ 
cenced by their peculiar misfortune; 
tiie other poor, as far as I can learn, 
are subsisted at the haws or cottages of 
the pooughees of each monastery, make 
a procession early every morning to 
appropriated quarters of the town, to 
collect the donations of the charitable, 
which, in general, consist of boiled 
rice, vegetable curries, and fruit. 
THE WEATHER. 
May 9. The general course of the 
weather is as follows, according to our 
reckoning by the civil day, which com¬ 
mences at midnight. After sun-set, or 
about eight P. M., a breeze springs up 
from the south-eastward, increases to 
a fresh breeze during the night, lulls 
in the morning about four o’clock. 
After sun-rise, or about seven A. M., 
springs up again from t he same quarter, 
freshens to a smart breeze during the 
day, gradually dying away to a calm 
about sun-set. This course occurred 
during these twenty-four hours. The 
weather was sultry, cloudy to the S.E., 
with lightning at sun-set. Thermo¬ 
meter six A.M. 85°; barometer 29,38, 
twelve N.; thermometer 93°; barome¬ 
ter 29,4-4, six p.m. : thermometer 94° 
barometer 29.3b. In the morning a 
procession passed by from the fort to 
the river, consisting of several sets of 
country 
