DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4651#0246
236 JOURNAL OF A RESIDENCE
gercd them; hoAvever, after a little hesitation,
they rejoined," but your case is different; you
are a resident."—" Well, and pray what is a resi-
dent .'"—" Why a resident is a governor, the same
as the mayhoon of Hunzawuddy ; you may hang
people, #-c, if you choose, and therefore you
must pay for your commission." In truth, they
seem altogether to have a very confused idea of
the nature of my office. The king, in his mes-
sages, and when he speaks of me, calls me his
resident; and among the number of wise pro-
posals intended to be made me by the looto, is,
that I shall take an oath of allegiance to his ma-
jesty, according to the Burmhan form. That is,
I am to swallow a quantity of holy water, in
which muskets, lances, and other warlike instru-
ments have been immersed, in public, at the great
pagoda, attended by the principal ministers, $-c.
A man had great need of patience in dealing with
these people, who are the most ignorant, pre-
suming, and rapacious set of beings that I ever
met with.
May 21. In the morning early I sent Mr.
Burnett, Sfc, with a message to the pacaam
whoonghee, to represent the impropriety of my
audience with the prince being so long delayed.
He received him very kindly in an inner apart-
ment of his house, and without any parade. In-
deed dignity and state seem to sit very uneasy
gercd them; hoAvever, after a little hesitation,
they rejoined," but your case is different; you
are a resident."—" Well, and pray what is a resi-
dent .'"—" Why a resident is a governor, the same
as the mayhoon of Hunzawuddy ; you may hang
people, #-c, if you choose, and therefore you
must pay for your commission." In truth, they
seem altogether to have a very confused idea of
the nature of my office. The king, in his mes-
sages, and when he speaks of me, calls me his
resident; and among the number of wise pro-
posals intended to be made me by the looto, is,
that I shall take an oath of allegiance to his ma-
jesty, according to the Burmhan form. That is,
I am to swallow a quantity of holy water, in
which muskets, lances, and other warlike instru-
ments have been immersed, in public, at the great
pagoda, attended by the principal ministers, $-c.
A man had great need of patience in dealing with
these people, who are the most ignorant, pre-
suming, and rapacious set of beings that I ever
met with.
May 21. In the morning early I sent Mr.
Burnett, Sfc, with a message to the pacaam
whoonghee, to represent the impropriety of my
audience with the prince being so long delayed.
He received him very kindly in an inner apart-
ment of his house, and without any parade. In-
deed dignity and state seem to sit very uneasy