They took with them, as the most appropriate present, a Bible, bound in six volumes, in gold leaf, intending to ask permission to translate it.
They arrived at Ava on the 28th of January, 1820, and beheld the gilded roofs of the pagodas and palace.

Two English residents welcomed them, and Mya-day-men, the Viceroy who had been their friend at Rangoon, undertook to present them to the Emperor.
They were taken to the palace, and were explaining their wishes to the Prime Minister, Moung Zah, when it was announced that "the golden foot was about to advance," and he had to hasten to attend the Emperor.

The dome whither the missionaries followed him was dazzling with splendour, very lofty, and supported on pillars entirely covered with gold, and forming long avenues, through one of which the Emperor advanced alone, with the proud gait and majesty of an Eastern monarch, with a gold-sheathed sword in his hand.

Every one prostrated his forehead in the dust except the two Americans, who merely knelt with folded hands.

He paused before them, and demanded who they were.
"The teachers, great king," replied Mr.Judson.
"What?
You speak Burmese--the priests that I heard of last night?
When did you arrive?
Are you like the Portuguese priests?
Are you married ?" and so on, he asked; then placing himself on a high seat, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, he listened to the petition read aloud by Moung Zah.