He employed for this purpose a trusty serjeant, who proceeded to the spot. On producing the minister’s orders to the principal person of the place, he was informed that the mandate was so peremptory, that it could not be resisted, but at the risk of his head, and he would immediately give the necessary directions for the bones to be collected. Much evasion was nevertheless practised, and so much time lost, that the honest serjeant became impatient, and declared that if what he came for was not immediately produced, he would return without them. At this moment, two men, with each a small burden, were seen approaching, who were declared to have with them what was wanted. They were delivered to the serjeant, who, as directed, rewarded the parties, and hastened to return. The English gentlemen had intended to come out in a body to meet the relics, had ordered a coffin covered with black velvet to receive them, and intended to inter them with the usual ceremonies of the church. But the serjeant had already returned, and deposited the charge in the officer’s house. The surgeon of the British establishment undertook to examine the bones, and arrange them, but on closer inspection it appeared that a gross imposition had been practised. There was indeed a part of a skull, but the other bones were certainly not human, but belonged to some animal. Since the above was written, information has been received, that a gentleman, an intimate connection of the traveller, has obtained possession of his papers, and of various documents relating to him and his meditated journies. These are methodizing and preparing for the press. Qui demissi in obscuro vitam agunt, Pauci sciunt—fama atque fortuna eorum pares sunt—qui in excelso ætatem agunt, eorum facta cuncti mortales novere. CHAPTER XII. From Browne let us proceed to the character next in succession, who had not his imperfections, and with whom the Sexagenarian appears to have had much and familiar intercourse. This was the Ambassador from the East India Company to the court of Ava, during the government of Sir John Shore, afterwards Lord Teignmouth. Before this mission, our geographical knowledge of Ava, and the contiguous countries, was exceedingly imperfect and inaccurate. The few books which had been published on the subject, were principally French, and were confined to unsatisfactory descriptions of Siam and Pegu; whereas the empire of Ava comprehends both Siam and Pegu, which are subordinate and tributary to the court of Ummo-rapoora, or, as it is there denominated, “The Golden Foot.” It extends to Tibet and China on the north, and on the south to Junkseylon.