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



retire down the river. The Burmese pursued as far as the entrance 

 to the Bassein river. The Prince determined to follow up the fugi- 

 tives. He took possession of Da-la, of Da-gun and Than-lyeng 

 (Syriam). Pu-thein and the whole of the western portion of the 

 Delta of the Irawati submitted to him. Seeing such great success, 

 king Meng Khoung himself arrived. Numerous partial actions took 

 place in the difficult country of the Irawati delta, but nothing 

 decisive was accomplished. The king of Pegu stirred up the Shan 

 chief of Nga-thai-wi to attack the towns and villages in the Ava 

 territory. This he did, and prince Thi-ha-thu, who remained at 

 home at the head of affairs, reporting the threatening state of affairs, 

 the Burmese army was withdrawn. 



But the prince, considering that he had almost been able to take 

 the capital of Pegu, and was only prevented by accident, determined 

 to try his fortune once more. In 776, the army went down the river, 

 and advanced towards Pu-thein. After some difficulty, the stockade 

 of Khai-boung was taken. The prince, however, could not take Pu- 

 thein, and determined to return himself to Ava apparently to obtain 

 reinforcements. He took with him several prisoners of high rank, 

 but remained there only seven days, and then returned to Pegu, 

 bringing his wife with him. He established himself in the province 

 of Da-la, but the city of that name appears to have been held by a 

 son of the king of Pegu, styled Bi-ngya- Da-la. Meng-rai-kyau-tswa 

 built several large boats, and having made himself liked by the men 

 in command under the king of Pegu, the cities of Pu-thein and 

 Myoung-mya submitted to him. 



At this time a serious difficulty threatened the king of Ava. 

 Two Shan chiefs of the states of Mau-dun and Mau-kay had attacked 

 Mye-du which was subject to Ava. The king had therefore punished 

 them, and they took refuge in the Chinese territory. They petitioned 

 the Emperor of China that their wives and children were held in 

 captivity by the Burmese, and asked for justice. A Chinese army 

 therefore marched into the Burmese territory, and came down to Ava. 

 After about a month, they became straitened for provisions, and sent a 

 message to this effect : " You neither give up the wives and children 

 " of the chiefs of Mau-dun and Mau-kay, nor do you come out to 

 " fight. We will remain thus for three years. Or, if you will not 



