Burmahs, yet there were many chiefs who still held out, and who, had
they crossed with their troops to the Irrawaddy, would have interrupted
the supplies coming up, and the wounded and sick who were sent down. We
had, therefore, still the duty of breaking up these resources if
possible. Having ascertained who the parties were, we sent a message to
one of the weakest to say, that if he did not tender his submission, and
come in to us, we should attack him, and burn the town to the ground.

The chief thought it advisable to obey our summons, and sent word that
he would come in on the ensuing day. He kept his promise: about noon,
as we were sitting in the verandah of a large _Sammy_ house (a sort of
monastery), which we had taken possession of, we were informed that he
had arrived. The token of submission on the part of the Burmahs is,
presenting the other party with _wax candles_. If a poor man has a
request to make, or favour to ask of a great man, he never makes it
without laying a small wax candle at his feet. Neither do they approach
the Rayhoon and Mayhoon without this mark of respect.

Some time after this, one of the chiefs who had submitted took up his
quarters at Bassein; and his little daughter, about eight or nine years
old, was very fond of coming to see me, as I generally made her little
presents. She became very much attached to me, but she never appeared
without a little wax candle, which she dropped at my feet before she
threw herself into my lap.

In the present instance, the chief first made his appearance, and having
come within a few feet, sat down as a _mark of respect_. He was
followed by six more, who each carried about two pounds of wax candles,
tastefully arranged in a sort of filigree work of coloured papers.
After these came about fifty men, carrying large baskets full of
vegetables and fruit, which they poured out on the floor before us, and
then walked away and squatted at a distance. A few words of ceremony
were then exchanged, and the friendship cemented over a bottle of brandy
and some wine; which, notwithstanding the use of spirituous liquors is
against their religion, and forbidden by the government, they did not
object to. Before he left I made him a present in return, and he went
away delighted with the gift. Several more of the minor chiefs
afterwards came in, and the same formalities were gone through; but
there were three of the most important who would not make their
a