DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4651#0111
IN THE RURMHAN EMPIRE.
101
once. The rayhoon said, I was a stranger, and
therefore an exception should be made in my
favour. " Ay, ay," replied the king, " let him
have whatever he wants." Mr. Rowland over-
heard part of his conversation, and learnt part
from the by-standcrs. The rayhoon has twice or
thrice sounded me, to know if I wished to have a
title conferred on me, and this day said that he
had heard one proposed, the same as the first
minister's. I have always replied generally, that
I should willingly accept of any mark of his
majesty's favour, provided it did not interfere
with my public situation; but that I first wished
to have my interview with the whoonghees, and
rank as Resident for the Honourable Company
settled. 1 am well convinced the proposal about
the title and the elephants originated with him-
self; from all accounts I find he is a chief favou-
rite with his majesty, and is in truth a very
shrewd fellow. The king then asked whether I
had been to see the pagoda; the viceroy told
him I meant to go to-morrow. He asked also
about the balloon, the viceroy replied he had
been employed all day in preparing a drawing of
it, and after the drawing was finished we would
make a balloon. His majesty was very anxious
to have it finished, and desired Ave might be fur-
nished with whatever we wanted. The viceroy
and woondock. sent their compliments by Mr.
101
once. The rayhoon said, I was a stranger, and
therefore an exception should be made in my
favour. " Ay, ay," replied the king, " let him
have whatever he wants." Mr. Rowland over-
heard part of his conversation, and learnt part
from the by-standcrs. The rayhoon has twice or
thrice sounded me, to know if I wished to have a
title conferred on me, and this day said that he
had heard one proposed, the same as the first
minister's. I have always replied generally, that
I should willingly accept of any mark of his
majesty's favour, provided it did not interfere
with my public situation; but that I first wished
to have my interview with the whoonghees, and
rank as Resident for the Honourable Company
settled. 1 am well convinced the proposal about
the title and the elephants originated with him-
self; from all accounts I find he is a chief favou-
rite with his majesty, and is in truth a very
shrewd fellow. The king then asked whether I
had been to see the pagoda; the viceroy told
him I meant to go to-morrow. He asked also
about the balloon, the viceroy replied he had
been employed all day in preparing a drawing of
it, and after the drawing was finished we would
make a balloon. His majesty was very anxious
to have it finished, and desired Ave might be fur-
nished with whatever we wanted. The viceroy
and woondock. sent their compliments by Mr.