many white elephants, lord of the mines of gold, silver, rubies, amber, and the noble serpentine, Sovereign of the empires of Thunaparanta and Tampadipa, and other great empires and countries, and of all the umbrella-wearing chiefs, the supporter of religion, the Sun-descended Monarch, arbiter of life, and great, righteous King, King of kings, and possessor of boundless dominions, and supreme wisdom, the following presents." The reading was intoned in a uniform high recitative, strongly resembling that used when our Church Service is intoned; and the long-drawn "Phya-a-a-a-a" (my lord) which concluded it, added to the resemblance, as it came in exactly like the "Amen" of the Liturgy. The reading over, the return presents were picked up by an official and bundled over to me without any ceremony, the King meanwhile looking on in silence, chewing betel and smoking a cheroot. Several of the courtiers were following his example in the latter respect. Presently the King spoke in a distinct, deliberate voice-- "Who is he?" Dr. Williams acting as my introducer, replied in Burmese-- "A writer of the _Daily News_ of London, your Majesty." "Why does he come?" "To see your Majesty's country, and in the hope of being permitted to reverence the Golden Feet." "Whence does he come?" "From the British army in Afghanistan, engaged in war against the Prince of Cabul." "And does the war prosper for my friends the English?" "He reports that it has done so greatly and that the Prince of Cabul is a fugitive." "Where does Cabul lie in relation to Kashmir?" "Between Kashmir and Persia, in a very mountainous and cold region." There had been pauses more or less long between each of these questions; the King obviously reflecting what he should ask next; then there was a longer, and, indeed, a wearisome pause. Then the King spoke again. "Where is the Kingwoon Menghyi?" "In Court, your Majesty," replied Pio Nono. "It is a Court day." "It is well. I wish the Ministers to make every day a Court day, and to labour hard to give prompt justice to suitors, so that there be no complaint of arrears." With this laudable injunction, his Majesty rose and walked away, and the audience was over.