The King then entered into a long discourse on the history of the Mahan-Zat, or life of Guadma in one of his former births, the gist of which was that a king who had a wise minister could get anything he set his heart upon. After which he related the story of a king of Benares, who had three birds' eggs brought to him; one produced a parrot, one an owl, and the other a _mainah_; and to each of these, in course of time, a department of the state was intrusted, but the highest, politics, fell to the parrot. "I believe," to the Envoy, ironically, "your English kings have existed for two hundred years or more. Have they not?" "The English nation, your Majesty, have had kings to reign over them for fifteen hundred years." "_My_ ancestors have come in regular descent from King Mahatha-mada" (the first king who established government on the earth,--many millions of years ago, at the beginning of the present Kamba, in fact). _Envoy_ (to one of the Atwen-woons, to show that he knew that no such king had ever reigned in Burmah). "Which of the royal cities did Mahatha-mada build?" The Atwen-woon only stared. "O," said the quick-witted Woondouk, "that king reigned in Myit-tshe-ma-detha [_the Middle land_, India]." _King._ "Our race once reigned in all the countries you hold. Now the Kalás have come close up to us." _Envoy._ "It is very true, your Majesty." "Have you read any part of our Maha-Radza-Weng [_Chronicles of the Kings_]?" "I have read portions of them, your Majesty, and am very anxious to read more." "Well, I will present you with a complete copy, and also a copy of the 550 Zats, and the Mahan-Zats; and when you come again I shall expect to find that you have studied them. I should like to have a copy of your Radza-Weng [_History of Kings_]." "That I will present to your Majesty." "It is only right, and the part of a wise man, to gather instruction from the records of the past and the works of sages. By the study of these books you will be enabled to divine people's thoughts from their appearance, and may aspire to the most difficult of all attainments,--the discerning of which is the greater principle, matter or spirit." The King then inquired if the Envoy had visited the Royal Tanks, at Oungben-lé and other places, which had been recently constructed. "I have not, your Majesty; but I purpose going." "I have caused ninety-nine tanks and ancient reservoirs to be dug, or repaired, and sixty-six canals, whereby a great deal of rice land will be made available. In the reign of Naurabha-dzyai 9999 tanks and canals were constructed. I purpose renewing them."