46 On the History of Arakan. [No. 145. 



ing terms the joy of the people, " from the inhabitants of the kingly 

 city, to those of the smallest village in the empire," that the descend- 

 ant of their ancient line of kings was restored to them. 



The restored king, however, was forced to submit to the degradation 

 of being tributary to the king of Thu-ra-tan, and from this time the 

 coins of the Arakan kings bore on the reverse, their names and titles 

 in the Persian character ; this custom was probably first made obliga- 

 tory upon them as vassals, but they afterwards continued it when they 

 had recovered their independence, and ruled the country as far as the 

 Brahmaputra river. 



Meng-tsau-mwun having got rid of his allies, meditated a change of 

 capital, and setting out on a journey to find a suitable spot, was miracu- 

 lously guided to the site of the present city of Arakan, called Myouk-u,* 

 by the figure of a handsome youth beckoning him on, but which con- 

 stantly retreated as the monarch approached. 



While searching for a proper site, numerous predictive signs of its 

 future destiny were manifested ;f with the concurrence of the astro- 

 logers, the city was founded on Sunday, the first day of the month 

 Taw-thaJeng, in the year 792. 



When Meng-tsau-mwun found his end approaching, as his sons 

 were infants, he appointed his brother Meng-kha-ri heir to the throne, 

 and closed his checquered career in the fourth year of his restoration, 

 aged fifty-three years. 



Having brought this sketch of Arakan history down to the founda- 

 tion of that city, which continued to be the residence of the kings for 

 three and a half centuries, until the Eurman conquest in a. d. 1784, it 

 is fitting to pause here, and resume the remaining portion of Nga-m$s 

 history at some future period. 



October, 1843. 



* This spot it is supposed, had been shewn by omens and incidents in very remote 

 times, to be destined as the site of a great city. It was temporarily occupied by the 

 Myu chief, Pai-phyu, who ascended the throne in the year 326. A stone wall round 

 the town, and one round the citadel, still remain. Immense labour has been expended 

 on those works. 



f Among the rest, five white touJctais, (large lizards,) were found in the hollow of a 

 tree. These are said by present interpreters of the omen, to mean the English, five of 

 whose kings, " who shall shine as flame and be workers of truth," are to reign over 

 the country, after which its independence will be restored, or the kingdom be esta- 

 blished, subject to the performance of homage to the superior power. 



