1869.] On the History of the Burma race. 45 



Ku-la country. The Prince appointed Let-ya-gyi governor. The 

 southern part of Arakan, the province of Than-dwai (Sandoway), was 

 placed under Tsuk-ka-te. The prince then returned to Ava where he 

 was received by his father with great distinction. 



The Arakanese nobles now applied for assistance to king Ra-dza- 

 di-rit. He sent an army in the following year, 773, which took 

 possession of Sandoway. Prince Meng-rai-kyau-tswa was again 

 sent to take it. He failed in an attack, but blockaded the town, and 

 reduced the garrison to great distress. The soldiers were obliged to 

 eat their very shields. The Talaing commander now had recourse to 

 a cunning artifice. He caused a false despatch to be sent addressed 

 to himself, announcing the advance of a large force coming to relieve 

 him, and managed to have this intercepted by the Burmese. The 

 Prince called a council of war, and they considered it best to retreat. 

 He returned with his army to Ava. The Talaing army then marched 

 on to the capital, Arakan city. As the Arakanese and the king of 

 Pegu were closely allied, the governor Let-ya-gyi who had been put 

 in by the Burmese, retired. 



In the year 774, the Tsau-bwa, of the large Shan state of Thein-ni 

 was preparing to attack Ava. Information of his preparations was 

 given by the Tsau-bwa of LTn-boung, and Prince Meng-rai-kyau-tswa 

 was sent against him. The Tsau-bwa of Thein-ni engaged the prince's 

 army, but was defeated and slain. The sons and son-in-law of the 

 Tsau-bwa shut themselves up in their fortified city, and called in the 

 Chinese to help them. The prince, hearing of the advance of the 

 Chinese army, proceeded by night with a part of his army, and lay in 

 wait in a thick wood. Suddenly attacked they were utterly defeated. 

 The prince then returned, and re-invested Thein-ni. In the mean 

 time Ra-dza-di-rit, king of Pega, hearing that the Burmese were oc- 

 cupied with Thein-ni, determined to attack Prome. On account of 

 the guns, he was forced to keep at a distance, but hoped to starve out 

 the garrison. While thus employed, hearing that a Siamese army 

 was attacking Mut-ta-ma, he left his son Bi-ngya-Pu-thein in com- 

 mand, and returned himself to Pegu. The prince Meng-rai-kyau- 

 tswa having settled affairs at Thein-ni, arrived at Prome. The king 

 of Pegu also returned there from the lower country. After many 

 skirmishes, the Talaing force was finally defeated, and compelled to 

 7 



