1869.] On the History of the Burma race. 43 



of the bad faith of the king of Pegu after he had sworn friendshp at 

 the pagoda of Prome, and invited him to join in an invasion of Pegu. 

 The letter was intercepted, and the messengers were seized. But Meng 

 Khoung in his anger determined at once to go to war. In vain his 

 faithful ministers represented to him the great difficulty of pene- 

 trating into a country like Pegu at the season of the year when the 

 rains were nigh at hand. The king would brook no delay. A large 

 force imder his own command, marched from Ava by the Toungu 

 route, in the month of Katshun 769. A force was left at the capital 

 to preserve order, and several regiments were posted at Prome to 

 guard that frontier, and collect and forward provisions for the army 

 by the Irawati river. The king of Pegu made great preparations, 

 to meet this attack. His army marched from the city of Han-tha- 

 wa-ti, and took post at the city of Tha-kyi'n. His advanced guard 

 under La-gwun-ein met Avith a repulse, and the Taking army 

 retreated to Pan-gyau, to await reinforcements soon expected from 

 Pu-thein and Mut-ta-ma. The Burmese now burnt all the towns 

 and villages of the country they occupied. But the rainy season 

 having set in, it was found difficult to supply provisions, and the 

 Peguan army being reinforced, was enabled seriously to interrupt the 

 communications of the Burmese. The latter now began to suffer 

 from hunger, and king Meng Khoung was advised by his ministers to 

 negociate. But the wily king of Pegu wished to take him prisoner, 

 and invited him to a meeting at the Kyaik-go Pagoda. This was 

 agreed to ; but, at the last moment, the king of Ava, suspicious of 

 treachery, would not keep his engagement. The Talaing officer 

 La-gwun-ein then undertook to seize king Meng Khoung by a 

 sudden night attack. In this he was accompanied by the refugee 

 prince, the former governor of Tsagaing, who was to recognize his 

 brother king Meng Khoung. La-gwun-ein penetrated into the 

 Burmese entrenched camp, and even into the king's tai } or booth, but 

 failed to capture him. Ra-dza-di-rit suspecting that the prince had 

 not given hearty assistance, put him to death. This desperate night 

 attack, which had well nigh succeeded, deeply alarmed king Meng 

 Khoung. He now determined to retreat, himself leading, while the 

 rear guard was commanded by an officer, styled Ra-may-then-tsi. The 

 king of Pegu despatched La-gwun-ein in pursuit. He, marching 



