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236 BIRMAH.
despotisms would the life and liberty of an unprotected
female, in such circumstances, have been so far re-
spected.
Amarapura, to which Minderajee-Praw gave the
proud title of the immortal city, is no longer the
capital of Birmah. A new palace was being erected
at Old Ava in February 1824, of which, as soon as
completed, the emperor was expected to take possession
in due form, and this city was to be the future
residence of the court. Of the transitory nature of
mundane grandeur, there cannot be a more striking
illustration than a Birman capital, with its wooden
houses and glittering pagodas. All the magnificence
which once attached to New Ava has, probably, ere
this, passed away. Colonel Symes describes several very
handsome edifices. One of the most interesting was
the Piedigaut-tiek, or royal library, a large brick
building, raised on a terrace, at the north-west angle
of the fort, close to a very handsome monastery. It
consisted of one square room, with an enclosed verandah
running round it. The room was locked, and
could not be opened without a special order ;
but the
librarian assured Col. Symes that there was nothing in
the inside different from what he saw in the verandah,
where about a hundred large chests, curiously ornamented
with gilding and japan, were ranged against
the wall. The books were regularly classed, and the
contents of each chest were inscribed in gold letters on
the lid. The librarian opened two, and shewed Co-
lonel Symes some very beautiful writing on thin
leaves of ivory, the margins ornamented with flowers
of gold. Some were in the Pali "
language. If all
the other chests were as well filled as those that were
submitted to our inspection," remarks the colonel,
" his Birman majesty may probably possess a more