1869.] On the History of the Burma race. 75 



nhyin. The king here disposed his whole army and flotilla, and 

 sent scouts across the river to communicate with his brothers Meng- 

 rai-kyau-hten and Meng Khoung, and to fix a day for a combined 

 assault upon the city of Ava. 



These arrangements having been agreed upon, the two brothers 

 advanced from their entrenchments towards the city. The king of 

 Ava, Tsi-thu-kyau-hteng, came out to oppose them at the head of 

 a Shan army. A battle ensued, in which the Ava Shans were worsted, 

 and forced back into the city. The two brothers then entrenched 

 themselves on the ground they had won. In the mean time Bhureng 

 Noung was crossing the Irawati to the Ava side. Arrived there 

 with his whole army, and in communication with his brothers, the 

 city of Ava, the people, and the garrison were enclosed like fish in a 

 trap. A general assault was made. The soldiers by attacking the 

 gates, by digging and by scaling the walls, at length took the city 

 in the month Ta-bu-dwai 916 (March 1555). The king of Ava, 

 Tsi-thii-kyau-hteng, had escaped from the city, ho|)ing to join the 

 U'n-boung Tsau-bwa, who was marching down with a force to support 

 him. But he was taken prisoner and brought before Bhureng Noung. 

 That great king having pity on him, at once provided for him a place 

 where he might remain with his family and attendants. Afterwards 

 he was sent to Pegu, and a handsome house suitable to his rank, 

 with a pleasant garden, was provided for him at the city of Han-tha- 

 wa-ti. 



Bhureng Noung intending to remain for a time at Ava, built for 

 himself a temporary house at Toung-ba-lu. His brother, Meng-rai- 

 kyau-hten was made tributary king of Ava with the title of Tha-do- 

 meng-tsau. He received the usual regalia. Bhureng Noung with 

 the dignity of Emperor in the wide dominions over which he ruled,, 

 began such measures as were necessary to secure his victory. 



Observations. — The dynasties which reigned at Pu-gan throughout 

 the long period of fourteen hundred years, had gradually declined 

 from the powerful position which the monarchy held, during the reign 

 of A-nau-ra-hta-tsau, in the eleventh century of the Christian era. 

 The invasion by the Chinese, or Tartars, during the reign of Kublai 

 Khan towards the end of the thirteenth century ; the capture of the 



