Untitled - Sabrizain.org

BIRMAH. 231
presented a most grand and imposing spectacle. Very
few were present, and these evidently great officers of
state. We remained about five minutes, when every
one put himself iiito the most respectful attitude, and
Moung Yo whispered that his majesty had entered.
We looked through the hall as far as the pillars would
allow, and presently caught sight of this modern Ahasuerus.
He came forward, unattended, in solitary
grandeur, exhibiting the proud gait and majesty of an
eastern monarch. His dress was rich, but not dis-
tinctive; and he carried in his hand the gold-sheathed
sword, which seems to have taken the place of the
sceptre of ancient times. But it was his high aspect
and commanding eye that chiefly rivetted our atten-
tion. He strided on. Every head, excepting ours,
was now in the dust. We remained kneeling, our
hands folded, our eyes fixed on the monarch. When
he drew near, we caught his attention : he stopped and
*
turned towards us. Who are these ? ' * The
partly
' What ! you speak
teachers, great king,' I replied.
Birman? the priests that I heard of last night?
when did you arrive ? are you teachers of ?
religion
are you like the Portuguese priest ? are you mar-
These and some other
ried ? why do '
you dress so ?
similar questions we answered; when he seemed
pleased with us, and sat down on an elevated seat,
his hand resting ou the hilt of his sword, and his eyes
intently fixed on us."
Moung Zah, the prime minister of state, now read
the petition, which stated, that the American teachers
had come up to behold the golden face, and had reached
the bottom of the golden feet, to ask permission to
preach their religion in the Birman empire, and that
those who were pleased with it, whether foreigners or
natives, might not be molested by the officers of go-