Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-07-12
o. S. MURRAY, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

are receiving a regular education are i
= them as novices.
u These buildings are found in almost e,
;, cry part Of the city, enclosed by fine brio
; walls, and shady walks. They are tn
only specimens of beauty and grandeu
which the city can boast, except the pa
godas, the palace, and a few zayats.-
Aristocrati feelings prevail even in these
: abodes of pretended sanctity; and into
some ofthem, none but youth ofthe high
er classes are admitted A number o.
our disciples who have been novciates
speak unfavorably of he morals of the
priesthood. Dressed like other citizens,
they may go anywhere after dark without
being recognized.
The palace is entirely Of wood It
consists of nearly one hundred BUILDINGS
of different sizes, and occupies snace
nearly aquarter Of a mile ong, and al
most as broad. The roofs ali have the
royal order of architecture. The hall
Of audience is in a sumptuous and conven-
lent building, standing on a terrace of
stone and mortar which constitutes the
floor, and is coated with stucco hard and
polished. Lofty pillars, richly carved
support the roof, and like the rest of
the buildings are covered with GOLD
| The roof raises like a steeple, with manv
stages, and is one hundred ninety-fve feet
high.
In looking at such buildings, or at the
numerous boats OF his majesty and the no.
blity, Of which every part, and even the
oars are covered with gold, one wonders
whence all this wealth is derived and is
distressed that it should be so absurdlv be-
slowed. The money expended in pago-
das, kyoungs, temples and gold and silver
baub}es, would fill the country with ca
mails, bridges, and durable houses.
The streets Of Ava cross each other at
right rngles, and are vide, straight, and
clean, but not paved. The houses are not
generally better than in other large towns,
but thatch being entirely prohibited, they
look more respectable The roofs are
covered with short pieces of bamboo, so
arranged as to look exactly like shingles.
Great men generally live in the centre of
some square, surrounded by the houses of
their many retainers. Most ofthem have
good brick building of two or three
rooms, intended not for occupancy, but as
a fire-proof depository for their vaIuables
These have very lately become common,
and with some fine brick monasteries
Just erected, and a sort of arsenal now in
progress, indicate general introduction of
brick houses. Nothing bu: the absurd
prohibition of the Government has prevent
ed this long ago. In some of these en-
closures (called compounds,) there are
pleasant gardens and fruit:trees.
AS to the population of the city, was
at much pains to obtain correct informa-
ton. The accounts obtained from govern
ment officers did not differ much from each
other. They said census was recently
taken. which gave thirty thousand houses
for the city and suburbs without including
any adjacent villages, and that ten per
cent. ougot to be added for OMISSIONS
They computed seven persons to a house.
A severe fire occurred just before my ar
riva which was reported By the proper
officers to the king, as having destroyed
one thousand houses, beside many huts
and temporary residences of poor people.
| examined the ground carefully and com
pared it with the rest Of the city, over all
of which rode repeatedly. The result Of
the whole induces me to put the popuIa-
ton Of Ava at AS the Govern
ment actually receives taxes on thirty
thousand houses, there does not seem room
for estimating the number lower, but am
confident it must include the township
1 repeatedly inquired, however, if the
buildings of the district or county were IN
cluded, and was always assured they were
not The whole city and kingdom beng
divided into tens of houses under an off,
Ger, and every ten of these officers beng
under superior, who has charge Of them
and their hundred houses, a census al
least under the very eye Of Government
must be toerably correct. Taxes are as
sessed on families as such, without re
gard to wealth. The head man is the tax
gatherer. If he can tax one hundred
houses and report only ninety, he puts the
balance into his pocket A Burman cen
sus is always under the truth
The city abound with shops, con
tanning nearly every sort of tore'g'
goods, and an ample number of mechan
les; though in some particular branche
, there are none. purchased specimen
: of carpentry, jewelry, tin-ware, toys, das
B. IA sort Of knife or chopper,) Iacqu'ere,
t boxes, earthen, ware, gongs, &c. WhIcI
l. were highly creditable to their SKILL
e Their bodybuilding. carving, sou 2ture
l. gliding, basket-making and weaving ar
= as good and ingenious as in America 10
., aught l could see, making due aIIowanc
5. for the differences Of form, &c. estabIIshe
y by national custom. got some PAIN
- ings executed by native artists, one
IS whom 1.-The king, painter, which al