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



vernor of Tsit-toung (Sit-tang), but was now in charge of the 

 palace and the royal person. The king Meng-ta-ra Shwe-hti wa 

 staying at a country palace, at a place called Pan-ta-rau. A report 

 was spread of a white elephant having appeared, and the king was 

 induced to go out into the jungal. Tha-mein-tsau-dwut now ma- 

 naged to send away those about the king on whom he could not 

 depend, and at night in the month Ka-tshun 912 (May 1550, A. D.), 

 he killed Meng-ta-ra Shwe-hti. He had reigned twenty years and 

 was thirty-six years old. The chief lla-han performed his funeral 

 rites, and collecting the bones, placed them in a golden vase, which 

 he buried in an undefiled spot. 



In the mean time, Tha-mein-tsau-dwut killed some of the nobles 

 about the king; drew others to his side, and then withdrew to Tsit- 

 toung, where he assumed the title of king. He took the title of 

 Tha-mein-tsek*ka-wau. Bhureng Noung was at Da-la hunting 

 down the followers of Tha-mein-htau-ra-ma in the difficult country 

 of the delta. His younger half brother Thi-ha-thii called round him 

 his followers, and marched from Pegu city to Toung-ii. Tha-mein- 

 tsau-dwut at once occupied the city of Pegu. Tha-do-dham-ma 

 Ra-dza, tributary king of Prome, changing his title to Tha-do-thu, 

 declared himself independent. All the cities and districts at the 

 Irawati river beyond Prome as far as Pu-gan remained under their 

 own governors. Bhureng Noung now consulted all the Shan, Taking, 

 and Burmese nobles who remained faithful to him. It was determined 

 to march to Toung-ii as the place where Bhureng Noung could best 

 collect his forces, and where he possessed most strength and influence. 

 "Whereas " Da-la in the midst of the Taking country, was like a 

 " wasp's nest, into which the hand had better not be put." He im- 

 mediately put himself in motion. His wife who was in the city of Pegu, 

 managed to escape and joined him. When he arrived near Toung-u, 

 his brother Thi-ha-thu made no advances to him, but remained 

 sullenly within the city. Bhureng Noung patiently waited in his 

 camp watching events. At Pegu, the usurper Tha-mein-tsau-dwut 

 did not long give satisfaction to the Taking nobles. They therefore 

 deposed him, and called in Tha-mein-htau-ra-ma who, by this time, 

 had set himself up at Mut-ta-ma. These events induced several Shan 

 chiefs, who did not wish to serve a Taking king, to come with their 



