WD540(27)

‘Meen-gyan, from the Steamer.’

TANTALIZED by late arrival at and early departure from the village of Koon-yooa, with its panorama of magnificent trees, colossal lions, beautiful pagodas and picturesque scenery generally, on the western bank, of which, consequently, no sketches could be obtained, little was found in the next place of halting to compensate for the loss. At Meen-gyan, indeed, the Mission were more the spectacle than spectators, as a multitude of full four or five thousand Burmese had assembled on the shore to witness the arrival of the strangers and their marvellous ships; whilst the over-powering heat of the weather, the sun, and the place, rendered it advisable to refrain from venturing to stroll on the shore until evening. The pictorial gleanings therefore were confined to those objects which a view from the Anchorage afforded, — a low flat sandy plain, and upon its far right — ‘about five miles from the town,’ the ‘remarkable pair of twin hills, rising to a height of 900 or 1000 feet,’ mentioned in the Report (‘page 65’.) The further of these two hills bears the name of ‘Toungtha’, — the nearer, ‘Kyouk-yeen’.

In the centre of the drawing will be observed two bamboo and mat buildings; a red flag decorating and marking either end of the front of the principal one. These were the Pooé houses or Burmese Theatres, erected, it is believed, expressly for the entertainment of the Mission; an attention which never failed to be scrupulously regarded at every halting place of the journey. The lesser construction, or booth, on the right, appertained to the exhibition of puppets, but the larger was devoted to the ‘regular drama;’ an operatic performance which is said frequently to last all night, and over several days! To these performances the Burmese are so attached that, it is declared, they are known to take with them their food, and sitting down day and night, patiently and fairly see them out! Despite inability to understand a word of the dialogue, the pantomimic skill displayed at this place was in itself sufficient to aiford a vast deal of amusement, whilst the continuous roars of laughter from the Burmese shewed its complete success amongst themselves.

The village or town of Meen-gyan, of which the outskirt only is here visible, is situated on the left, and appeared a populous and busy place. In the extreme distance to the right, not embraced in this view, was still to be seen the ‘cloud-capped’ hill of Paopa-toung, an object of attention and interest from the time of arrival at Yea-nan-gyoung.

The heap of fire-wood observable near the puppet house was the customarily prepared supply of fuel ready for use of the Steamers.

The departure of the Mission at 8 the next morning, was watched by another vast concourse of many thousands of people, lining the bank of the river from end to end of the town.