Untitled - Sabrizain.org

216 BIRMAH.
formal presentation to the Lord of all Elephants, is
highly curious and interesting. Owing, as it should
seem, to unfavourable impressions respecting the rela-
tive greatness and importance of the British empire,
which he ascribes to foreign emissaries, and a hesi-
tation on the part of the Birman emperor to recognise
the governor-general of India in any higher cha-
racter than that of a provincial governor, our envoy
was at first treated with a parsimonious politeness
bordering on contempt. At the first interview, the
throne was vacant, his majesty not deigning to illuminate
them with the golden presence. At the same
time, a studied exhibition was made of the pomp and
dignity of the court. An elephant was sent to convey
Colonel Syines from the landing place to the palace ;
but Dr. Buchanan and Mr. Wood, who were attached
to the mission, were provided only with horses. The
procession was arranged with due formality. After
proceeding a short way, they entered a wide and handsome
street, paved with brick. The houses, which
were low, built of wood, and tiled, had evidently been
afresh white-washed for the occasion, and were deco-
rated with boughs and flowers. In front of each house
projected a slight latticed railing of bamboo, over which
were hung mats, forming a sort of covered balcony,
every one of which was crowded with spectators, male
and female. Boys sat on the tops of the houses, and
the streets were so thronged as to leave only space
sufficient for the procession to pass; but throughout
this crowd there was no disturbance or noise. Every
person, as the procession came in sight, squatted down,
and remained in that respectful position till it had
passed. The pagwaats, or constables, armed with long
rods, drove back those who advanced too far, but
without hurting any one. The distance from the