DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4651#0408
IN THE BURMHAN EMPIRE. 395
bard, plated with gold, in his hand. He ascended
his throne by steps placed towards the front of
it, and seated himself in the Burmhan style. He
appeared to me about five feet five inches in
height, rather inclined to corpulence ; deep brown
complexion, as the Burmhans in general are; of
an animated cheerful countenance ; and, as I
should guess, about six or seven and thirty years
of age. He fixed his eyes very steadfastly on us,
without speaking for a quarter of an hour. He then
asked which was the Resident ? After some further
pause, he desired I Alight be asked to partake of
some refreshments; and tea, sweetmeats, and betel,
were immediately served. His highness spoke
to us through the whoon, and while we were par-
taking of the tea, $-c, he asked several questions
respecting the relative force of the French and
English nations; said, he had heard that the
French were most powerful by land, and the Eng-
lish by sea; asked whether five English ships
could beat ten French? whether France contained
more inhabitants than England ? all which I faith-
fully and impartially answered. He then ob-
served, if the English were more powerful by
sea, why were their ships afraid to come to Ran-
goon as formerly 1 or why did we permit them to
take the Burmhan ships ? 1 told him, it was as
impossible for us to protect all our merchantmen
from privateers and marauders, as it was for the
bard, plated with gold, in his hand. He ascended
his throne by steps placed towards the front of
it, and seated himself in the Burmhan style. He
appeared to me about five feet five inches in
height, rather inclined to corpulence ; deep brown
complexion, as the Burmhans in general are; of
an animated cheerful countenance ; and, as I
should guess, about six or seven and thirty years
of age. He fixed his eyes very steadfastly on us,
without speaking for a quarter of an hour. He then
asked which was the Resident ? After some further
pause, he desired I Alight be asked to partake of
some refreshments; and tea, sweetmeats, and betel,
were immediately served. His highness spoke
to us through the whoon, and while we were par-
taking of the tea, $-c, he asked several questions
respecting the relative force of the French and
English nations; said, he had heard that the
French were most powerful by land, and the Eng-
lish by sea; asked whether five English ships
could beat ten French? whether France contained
more inhabitants than England ? all which I faith-
fully and impartially answered. He then ob-
served, if the English were more powerful by
sea, why were their ships afraid to come to Ran-
goon as formerly 1 or why did we permit them to
take the Burmhan ships ? 1 told him, it was as
impossible for us to protect all our merchantmen
from privateers and marauders, as it was for the