The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-12
INTERESTING FROM BURNAA


From the Boston Evening Traveller, Nov 81
A friend at the rooms of the American Baptist Mis-
sionary Union in this city furnishes the following inter
estng intelligence from Bunnah including the parcu-
lars Of the reception of letter from the President of the
United States.
In the absence Of any tidngs of striking missionary
character, DR. Dawson furnishes interesting account
Of trip in Msrch last to Mandeay the capital of
the BurIUan empire. Ummerapoora Ava the former
capital is unmingled mass of ruins, and with
few exceptions has been abandoned by the people The
journey by boat from iangoon is about 600 miles, and
occupied twenty-sx days The city is thus described
''lle city of Mandelay derives its name from
mountain which stands at the northeast corner, and
about half mile distant Besides the ordinary
by which 1t Is called it has recently received historical
and royal title, by which 1t may be distinguished in after
ages from all other royal cities in this empire, which
have preceded 1t in the annals OF Burmese history The
title s 'Maha-bong ghyee nay -pyee dau ghyee which
signifies, The great. great. great glory and place OF the
rising sum-
.sfle grand entry of the King and into the
city took place the th day of the waxing of the
Wahso corresponding to month of July, 1857 and
accompanied by all the pageantry and display usual
state occasions.
'Withn the period of eight short months prodigious
amount OF work has been accomplished here and with
wonder and astonishment stranger may now behold
city OF about three hundred thousand souls risen
II were out of the ground
"a little year since the site of the present city
succession Of verdant fields, yielding rich and
fruitful harvest of grain for the immense population Of
the neghborng city and villages. wall of earth about
sixteen feet high and twenty feet deep. and spreading
a surface Of two miles has been raised up de-
fensiye work. The city is laid out in the figure of
square, with Temporary palace in the centre and the
streets which hundred feet broad at right
angles Along the sides of the streets have been cut
channels for conducting stream of water which is
great improvement the late city. Rows of trees
have yet TO be planted, and efforts being made to
macadamize some of the public thoroughfares.
The houses present considerable uniformity not only
In the materials Of which they constructed, but in
style OF building and size. The King, Princes, and
blelnen all living within the walls and all appear to
have spacious premises The palace is rapidly going
up and around is brick WALL six feet thick All the
foreigners reside the west se Of the city, and the do
mesticatcd Chinese population on the south.
As possible il Is the intention of the govern
ment to complete the digging of deep trench outside of
the city walls, and TO face the walls themselves with
strong brickwork On the -four sides of the city inn
suburbs have already sprung into existence, and
are destined TO be considerably enlarged
Nothing be better than the regularity with which
the public roads laid out and in every direction
whole ranges of well constructed teak and bamboo build
ings may be plan has been adopted for supply
ing the city with water by canal enbankment lead
ing from the river and In order To procure the necessary
level the embanknent extends distance of six
teen miles The main channel Of the river, which flows
toward the southwark il three miles distant from the
city; but half mile smaller branch has to be
crossed Countless numbers Of carts hauling bricks
and other binding materials in different directions and
the great extent OF public works in progress renders the
whole atmosphere Of the region exceedingly dusty and
unpleasant The great of the population appear in
dustrious and contented.
g In regard TO order, quiet, and the public peace this
city from all rowdyism public turbulence and
street brols many Of the cities of enlightened Chris
tian nations Ii 1t Is cretabc to the people
to the government that it Is OF there are
thieves here, in all other countries in the world The
pockets of ladies and gentlemen picked every day in
the streets of London under the very eyes of of the
best constituted police forces In the world 1t would
therefore, be too much expect that the Burmese should
be found to be exempt from crime of that nature
''There two river steamers belonging to the
King anchored the city as they approach.
These make trips occasionally down to Rangoon when
there Is sufficient depth of water TO enable them to do
All who wish come up passengers In them, and
believe no charge is made for the passage. Besides
regular communication kept up with Rangoon by Oak
boat and all letters and papers conveyed for the
community free Of expense boat leaves about once In
ten days, and pushing along rapidly does reaches
its destination at Rangoon in eight days. 1t remains
there about three days. and returns to the capital again
in from twenty-five to twenty-five days. As may be
supposed this arrangement is great favor and public
convenience to all classes of foreigners residing in this
city,
Several months since the King of Burmah sent to this
country friendly communication, desiring friendship and
comfy, to the President of the United States The
muncaon WAS responded to by our government in fit
ting terms and in due time arrived in Burmah. The
manner of its reception by the Burmese authorities Is suf
icently unique and interesting
The letter from the President of the United States to
the address Of his Majesty the King of Burmah, brought
to this country by Mr. Kincad received with every
demonstration of respect and honor. Expressly for its
reception, royal zyat, thauday, was built at the
lower end of the city and the day ofs delivery into
the hands of the Burman officers who appointed to
receive it, long and imposing procession formed to
convey it distance of five miles into the royal city
The procession organized in accordance with the usual
style of oriental splendor comprising mounted horse
seated gilded saddles line of an-beaers dress
cd in flowing white robes royal elephants dccked with
gilded howdahs and, closing the whole crowd of gov
ernment officials mounted ponies and others
walking and attended by their followers carrying various
umbrellas and utensils
The chief magistrates letter opened at the zhooau,
or royal court of the Kingdom by order of woondouk
under secretary of State where it translated into
Burmese by the kullowoon, who Ii Armenian In the
evening it presented by the woongyec great min
lister Of State, to his majesty who very much pleased
with It
'Being the first communication of the kind re-
ceived from the American government, and from func
onary of corresponding rank with the sovereign of any
of the great European nations his Majesty apparent
ly anxious to mark the event of unusual interest
to his government. The contents Of the letter
plain, simple and straightforward alludng to tho
ceipt of Burmese communication from the king, and
expressing hope that there might be dminution in
the sovereignty domnions of his Majesty and that the
existing friendly relations between America and Buah
might be perpetual 1t gave great satisfaction TO the
whole court. - 9
In a subsequent interview with the missionaries the |
king of Burmah ntmated strong wish to have an
American consul residing at his capital He requests |
that might be sent OF talent and good tom
per- who might II he chose engage in mercantile pur
nh ~f