In this place we shall introduce some description of the principal cities of the Birman empire, as it will illustrate the state of society and of the arts in this country. The seat of government has been often suc cessively changed under different sovereigns. At pre sent. the capital is Ummerapoora, a city which was founded by Menderagee, soon after he ascended the throne, and which has speedily become one of the most dourishing places in the East. It is situated on peninsula between a lake on the south-east, and a large .river with numerous isles on the north-west, and Avith its spires, tutrets, and lofty obelisk, &c. noting the royal presence, seems to rise like Venus out of the waters. The lake is called Tounzemahn, from a village on the opposite side, which is•ornamented with all groves of mango, ,palmyra, and cocoa trees. The number and singularity of the boats which are•moor ed in the lake, and the surrounding amphitheatre of lofty hills, conspire to render the scene grand and in teresting. The fort is an exact square, with public granaries and store-rooms, and there is a gilded tem ple at each corner nearly 100 feet in ,height, bot far inferior to others in the vicinity of the capital. In the centre of the fort stands the royal palace, with a wide court in front, beyond which is the hall of coun cil, supported by about eighty pillars disposed in eleven rows. The buildings this city are chiefly of wood.
Ava, the former capital, is about four miles from Ummerapoora ; but since the removal of the seat of government to that city, has fallen into a state of de cay. " The walls," says Colonel Symes, " are now mouldering into ruin, ivy clings to the sides, and bushes suffered to grow at the bottom, undermine the foundation, and already caused large chasms in the different faces of the fort. The materials of the houses, consisting chiefly of wood, had, on the first order for removing, been transported to the new city of Ummerapoora: but the ground, unless when it is covered with bushes or rank grass, still retains traces of former buildings and streets. The lines of the royal palace, of the grand council hall, the apart ments of the women, and the spot on which the peasath or imperial spire had stood, were pointed out re ns by our guide. Clumps of bamboos, a few plan tain trees, and tall thorns, occupy the greater part of the area of the lately flourishing capital. We ob served two dwelling houses of mortar and brick, the roofs of which had fallen in. These, our guides said, had belonged to foreigners. On entering one, we found it inhabited only by bats, which flew in our faces, whilst our sense of smelling was affected by their filth, and by the noisome mildew that hung upon the walls. Numerous temples, on which the Birmans never lay sacrilegious hands, were dilapidating by time. It is impossible to draw a more striking picture of desolation and ruin." Pep was formerly capital of the kingdom of that name : but after the conquest of it by Alompra, who demolished the buildings, and razed the whole to the ground, it fell into decay. But after Men deragee ascended the throne, he endeavoured to con ciliate the native Peguese, by permitting them to re build their ancient city, within the site of which a new town has accordingly been reared. It is situated
in 17° 40' N. Lat. and 96° 11' 15* E. Long. Thu number of inhabitants appears to be about six or seven thousand.
Besides these cities, there are many others of con siderable importance. Rangoon, one of the principal pqrts in the kingdom, was founded by Alompra, and is. estimated to contain about 30,000 inhabitants.. Towards the mouth of the river Pegu stands Siriam, formerly one of the chief ports of that kingdom, and which carried on a considerable commerce when iu possession of the Portuguese. Martaban was another sea-port of considerable eminence, until the harbour was impeded by order of the Birman emperor. The grand river Irrawaddy, the course of which is about 1200 miles in length, • is adorned with numerous towns and villages. Persain or Bassian stands on its western branch. At a considerable distance to the north is Prome, celebrated as the scene of many long sieges and bloody battles, the population of which is • said to exceed that of Rangoon. Chagaing, opposite to the capital, was once a city of imperial residence, . and is still a principal market for cotton. Pagahm is celebrated for its numerous temples, but is now in a state of decay. Towards the north and west there are also An-acan, Quangtong, Barnoo, Munnipora, Monchaboo.
Of the population of the Birman empire we have no accurate information. Colonel Symes, however, says, that he was credibly informed the number of cities, towns, and villages, amounted to 8000, exclu sive of Arracan. Now, if this be true, and we sup pose each of them, on an average, to contain 300 houses, and every house six persons, the population will amount to 14,400,000 persond. Few of the in habitants, however, live in solitary houses ; they most ly form themselves into small societies, and their dwellings, thus collected, compose their villages ; and therefore, he concludes, tbat if we estimate the whole population, including Arracan, at 17,000,000, it will not probably exceed the truth.
In their features the Bit-mans bear a greater resem blance to the Chinese than to the natives of Hindos tan. The men are not tall, but they are active and I athletic, and have a very youthful appearance, as, in stead of using the razor, they pluck out their beards., They tattoo their thighs and arms with various fan tastic shapes and figures, which they consider as a powerful charn. against the weapons of their enemies. The women, especially in the northern part of the empire, are fairer than the Hindoo females ; but they are not so delicately formed, and, in general, they are inclined to corpulency : their hair is black, coarse, and long. At an early age, the girls are taught to turn their arms in such a manner as to make them appear distorted. When the arm is extended, the inside of the joint is protruded, and the external part bends inwards. Neither the men nor the women are so cleanly in their persons as the Hindoos, among whom diurnal ablution is a religious and moral duty.