Cox, Hiram: Journal of a residence in the Burmhan Empire and more particulary at the court of Amarapoorah (London, 1821)

IN THE BUmiHAN EMPIRE.

131

so that if his majesty was to melt them down, he
could not lose more than 400 ticals at the ut-
most ; but that loss or gain was entirely out of
the question : that the Honourable the Governor-
General had directed them to be coined merely to
oblige his majesty, without any view to benefit or
gain on his part: that, on the contrary, he had
incurred the risk of the seas and enemies in send-
ing them without any charge to his majesty ; he
had besides presented him with a valuable set of
coining implements, and various other valuable
presents, and was not to be treated like a trader
on whose hands goods might be thrown at the
caprice of the purchaser. That for my part, it
was utterly out of my power to receive back the
money, as by so doing I should be consenting to
a gross indignity offered to the Honourable the
Governor-General, who had deputed me. About
this time a gilt war-boat arrived with the king's
treasurer, an illegitimate son of his majesty, who
had brought with him the four boxes of rupees,
and money to pay for the copper. I desired him
to be seated, but would not permit them to deliver
the boxes of silver, or receive the value of the
copper. The boxes, therefore, were laid down at
the gate of the enclosures of the bungalow. What
I had told the rayhoon, I made the interpreter
repeat to the treasurer, who assured me he would
inform his majesty of my sentiments and feelings

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