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

174 JOURNAL OF A RESIDENCE

beads, but requested of him to send his writer
and Mr. Moncourtuse, the translator, to my
house, that they might be fully translated, as
they were too long to discuss during a visit, and
I was desirous of having his excellency's opinion
of them before they were presented. He im-
mediately gave orders to that effect, and then
pressed me to return with him to Rangoon, using
nearly the same arguments as had been urged by
the rayhoon; adding, that he Avould leave a
proper person to bring his majesty's answer to
my request; that he had already his majesty's
directions to comply with all my wishes, so that
it would be a needless trouble my remaining
here. I endeavoured to evade the question, un-
willing to give him a positive refusal, saying, I
would consider of what he had stated after the
papers were translated ; all I wanted at present
was, to lay a solid foundation on which his ex-
cellency and I might, at our leisure, raise a
superstructure that might be highly beneficial to
his majesty's interest. I then told his excellency,
that I had to request the favour of his intro-
ducing me to the Enga Tckaing. He replied, he
Avould wait on the Enga Tekaing to know his
pleasure, and would attend at his palace to re-
ceive and introduce me; and that proper officers
would be sent to conduct me. His excellency
was habited in the common dress of the country;