44 On the History of the Burma race. [No. 2, 



rapidly by jungle paths, fell on the Burmese and killed many. The 

 retreating army became utterly scattered, and the king mounted 

 on a swift female elephant to escape. The army now flying helter- 

 skelter, became like a hale of cotton unloosed to the wind. The 

 queen Sheng-mi-nouk was taken prisoner, and being carried to 

 king Ra-dza-di-rit was taken into his harem. The chief queen, the 

 howdah of whose elephant became loose and swung round, with 

 difficulty escaped on another elephant. The rear guard alone pre- 

 served discipline, and the Talaings seeing them stand like a stockade 

 of iron dared not attack them. The king on reaching his capital 

 was in deep distress. His minister consoled him by relating 

 many instances, where weak and insignificant creatures had been 

 successful over those far their superiors, because those superiors could 

 not overcome the obstacles of nature. Hearing these words, " the 

 burning distress of king Meng Khoung was assuaged, as fire is 

 quenched by water." 



But the king could not forget the insults and injuries he had 

 received from the king of Pegu. In the year 771, he again invaded 

 that country. The expedition was unsuccessful, but from the cautious 

 manner of proceeding, w^as not so disastrous as before. The Burmese, 

 the history states, had guns and muskets at this time. 



As all the direct attacks on Pegu had failed, another plan and 

 another point of attack were now adopted. The king's eldest son 

 Meng-rai-kyau-tswa, the strange story of whose birth in the year 

 752 has been related, now besought his father to appoint him to lead 

 an army, to rescue his mother and sister from captivity. A large 

 army was collected, and marched in the year 772 (A. D. 1410), by 

 the Irawati route. A large fleet w^as in company. The force 

 proceeded down and entered into the province of Pu-thein (Bassein). 

 The prince first attacked the town of Myoung-mya, but failing to take 

 it, proceeded to Pu-thein. Finding that there were many guns 

 mounted there, he blockaded the city, but could effect nothing. It 

 was now suggested by one of the generals, that they should proceed 

 into Arakan, the king of which country had been supported by their 

 enemy, the king of Pegu. This advice was adopted. The Prince 

 returned to Proine and from thence crossed the mountains into 

 Arakan. The king Na-ra-meit-hla was defeated, and fled into the 



