1869.] On the History of the Burma race. 41 



bank. King Meng Khoung was much alarmed, but a religious man 

 of Pan-ya, a man of great learning, styled Tsa-gyo-thu-myat, under- 

 took to make the king of Pegu, by the mere force of knowledge and 

 eloquence, abandon his enterprize and return to his own country. 

 The king of Ava wrote a letter to the king of Pegu, and Tsa-gyo-thu- 

 myat was admitted to an interview with the latter on board the 

 royal state boat. A long conversation on religion and the duties of 

 kings ensued. The result was, that king Ra-dza-di-rit, persuaded by 

 the eloquence of the religious man, that peace was good for all 

 people, and the only consistent course for a pious king, determined to 

 return to his own country. Before leaving, he took to pieces his own 

 golden boat, to build a monastery at Shwe-kyet-yet, near Tsa-gaing. 

 But notwithstanding this abandonment of his expedition, he again 

 invaded Burma in the following year. He, as before, advanced up to 

 Prome with a vast flotilla. The king of Ava came with an army to 

 defend that city. The king of Pegu divided his forces to blockade 

 the city, and placed a strong body of men on the northern side of it. 

 But before this could be accomplished, a quantity of rice laden on 

 horses was thrown into the city, which thereby was saved from 

 famine. The king of Pegu now established himself on the west 

 bank of the river. His flotilla kept the stream in his power, but 

 three of his regiments, left isolated on the land to the north of the 

 city, were attacked and cut to pieces. Though not able to take 

 Prome, the king of Pegu was still master on the river. He sent 

 three hundred boats up the stream, which burnt Mye-dai, Tha-ret 

 and other cities to the north, and ravaged the country, from whence 

 the Burmese army drew their supplies. This forced king Meng- 

 Khoung to sue for peace. At first, Ra-dza-di-rit sent an unfavourable 

 reply. He referred to the reception given by the king of Burma to 

 his rebellious subject, the chief of Myoung-mya, and returned the 

 presents offered him. The king of Burma had taken prisoner a 

 Taking nobleman, styled Tha-mein-dzeip-byai, who had two daughters 

 in the palace of the king of Pegu, aud both of whom had accompanied 

 him in his expedition. The king of Burma now offered this noble- 

 man his liberty, if he influenced his daughters to persuade Ra-dza- 

 di-rit to make peace. The king of Pegu, through their entreaties, 

 and against the advice of his nobles, again entered into negociations. 



