42 On the History of Arakan. QNo. 145. 



acts of tyranny, he incurred the hatred of many influential men, and 

 even the priests, whose religion forbids them to notice worldly affairs, 

 are represented as inimical to him. A fanciful tale is related of the means 

 taken to procure his death. A certain noble, who was the Tsi-tha- 

 beng, or commander of the body guard, whom he had deeply offended, 

 conspired with two religious students, who were said to possess the 

 power of metamorphosis, an art which the king had formerly learnt 

 from them. The two brothers assuming the form of wild buffaloes 

 approached the capital ; information thereof being brought to the king, 

 he, unaware of the deception, ordered a hunting party to be formed, and 

 went out to see the sport. As soon as he saw the buffaloes, he knew 

 them to be the magicians transformed, and endeavoured to escape by 

 flight as a parrot. The brothers instantly assuming the form of hawks, 

 followed in pursuit. The king finding he could not escape, dropped 

 his disguise, and fled towards a Kyoung, or monastery, where he im- 

 plored the protection of the head priest. The priest reproaching him 

 with his oppressive conduct repulsed him, and he fled to an adjoining 

 temple, where he concealed himself in the hollow part, containing an 

 image of Gau-ta-ma, and shut the gate. The brothers followed him, 

 and threatening to apply fire to the gate, he came forth, and was slain 

 by them on the spot, in the fourth year of his reign. 



He was succeeded by his son Meng-bhi-lu, who married the daugh- 

 ter of the Tsi-tha-beng, the conspirator against the former sovereign. 

 This prince is described as being if possible more hateful than his fa- 

 ther; being jealous of the supposed high destinies of his infant son 

 Meng-di, he ordered him to be cast into the river, but the child was 

 miraculously preserved, and rescued by some fishermen. He was then 

 sent to a remote part of the kingdom. These and other similar acts 

 inflaming the minds of the people against him, he was slain in a con- 

 spiracy headed by the Tsi-tha-beng, after a reign of four years. 



Tsi-tha-beng, the king-maker now usurped the throne, but was him- 

 self killed in the third year of his reign. 



The son of Meng-Bhi-bi, named Meng-di, was then raised to the 

 throne, when he was only seven years of age. This king gave general 

 satisfaction, and enjoyed a long and prosperous reign. In the year 

 656, the Shans invaded the kingdom, but were repulsed. The king of 



