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SyLVEIRA, 

 SAD FATE, 



INDIA BEYOND THE GANGES. 



the channels and the mouths of rivers, the noife is moft tre- 

 mendous. The hore is faid to be lixteen feet high ; the barks 

 which run up the Pegu river, are carried with the rapichty of an 

 arrow out of a bow. If they cannot finifli their voyage in a 

 tide, they anchor on fome of the numerous fand banks with 

 which the river is filled. The expanfion of the tide on thofe 

 elevated parts leffens the danger ; as foon as the barks begin to 

 be lifted up, they prepare for their voyage. At a certain time 

 the mariners loofen their anchors, and are carried on as I defcribe. 

 If they, or even the largeft fhips, lay in the channel, they would 

 certainly be overfet, and the crew and the cargo at once over- 

 whelmed in the wave ; for this reafon, large fliips feldom ven- 

 ture to navigate this river, but difcharge their ladmg at Siriam, 

 from whence it was wont to be conveyed to Pegu in barks. 



The Portugueje very foon got confiderable intereft in this 

 country, but by their profligate condu6l were expelled by the 

 HIS reigning monarch. One 'Thomas Sylveira had by his valor 

 done confiderable fervice to the king in the Siamefe wars ; he 

 became a prime favorite, had his ftate elephant and body-guard 

 allowed; till one day paffing through the flreets, and hearing the 

 mirth of nuptial merriment in a burgher's houfe, flopped at the 

 door, and underftanding that the bride was a virgin of uncom- 

 mon beauty, requefted a fight of her; the bridegroom, thinking 

 it an extraordinary honor, brought her to the fide of Sylveira\ 

 elephant ; the riiflian caufed her to be feized, and carried to his 

 houfe. The unhappy bridegroom, unable to fuftain his lofs, cut 

 his throat ; the relations rent their cloaths, and ran through 

 the flreets, appealing to their gods and monarch for revenge. 

 The king heard the complaint, caufed Sylveira to be feized, and 

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