1869.] On the History of the Burma race. 35 



fled to Kya-khat-wa-ra, the people who accompanied him, were much 

 discontented. Tha-do-meng-bya found many adherents, and put his 

 step-father to death. He then determined to take possession of the 

 cities, which had been plundered and abandoned by the Mogoung 

 Shans. He first advanced to Pan-ya. There he found U'-za-na Byoung 

 raised to the vacant throne ; but he put him to death, and declared 

 himself king of Pan-ya and Tsa-gaing. He, following the custom 

 of the ancient race, married his sister Tsau-um-ma, who had been 

 Queen to Kyau-tswa, Na-ra-thu, and U'-za-na Byoung, the three last 

 kings of Pan-ya. This event occurred in the year 726 = A. D. 

 1364. 



Tha-do-meng-bya had now no rival to oppose him. He deter- 

 mined to build a new city, and in the same year, that Pan-ya and 

 Tsagaing were destroyed, the city of Awa, Eng-wa, or A-va, was 

 built. The Pali, or sacred name, of it was Ra-ta-na-pu-ra (city of 

 gems). The position on the left bank of the I-ra-wa-ti, a little below 

 the mouth of the stream, called Myit-nge', had long before been 

 predicted by Gau-da-ma as destined to be the site of a great city. 

 Dreams and omens now confirmed the ancient prediction. The 

 work of founding the city was carried on with a degree of energy, 

 prompted by the conviction of the great destinies which were thereby 

 to be accomplished . Lakes and swamps were dammed and drained. 

 Pagodas were built, and the city wall marked out. The king's palace 

 was raised in the centre, and was the citadel of the whole work. 

 Tha-do-meng-bya now ruled over the country all round Ava, Tsa- 

 gaing, and Pan-ya. Toung-u also is said to have been subject to 

 him. The cities of Nga-nway-giin, Toung-dweng-gyi, and Tsa-gii, 

 were independent. The king first proceeded to reduce Tsa-gu. 

 On the way, he stopped at Pu-gan, and there received the homage 

 of Tsau-mwon-nit, the last nominal king of the Pu-gan dynasty. 

 He was unable to reduce Tsa-gu, which held out under the governor 

 Thein-ga-thu. In the following year, he took Toung-dweng-gyi ; and 

 in the year 729, he again marched against Tsa-gii. The chief made 

 an obstinate resistance, and during the siege, Tha-do-meng-bya 

 caught the small-pox. He set out to return to Ava, but feeling that 

 he must die, sent on a confidential servant or minister, named Nga- 

 nu, with orders to put his queen Tsau-um-ma to death, so that she 



