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



In the country of Toungu we have seen that the ruler Meng-kyi- 

 ngyo, who died in the year A. D. 1530, had reigned for forty-five 

 years. During that period, while Ava was a prey to disorder, he had 

 maintained his independence, and gradually increased his power- 

 His son Meng-ta-ra Shwe-hti commenced his persevering attacks upon 

 Pegu, overthrew that kingdom, and after a surprising career was 

 assassinated at the early age of thirty-six years. It might have been 

 anticipated, that here would have ended the fortune of the rulers of 

 Toungu. But Bhureng Noung, the general of Shwe-hti, with won- 

 derful enterprise, crushed all opponents, and combining the power of 

 Toung-u, of Pegu and of Prome, accomplished the designs of Shwe- 

 hti by conquering Ava and the north. This he effected with a mixed 

 army of Talaings, Burmese, and Shans ; and though subduing the 

 country where the Burmese people were probably more numerous than 

 elsewhere, he claimed to represent the Burma race. 



A future chapter will describe the remarkable career of this ruler ; 

 and the empire which he founded, extending from near the Burhain- 

 putra river to the Mekhong, or great river of Cambodia. The 

 dealings both of Meng-ta-ra Shwe-hti and of Bhureng Noung with 

 the Portuguese, who, with their Muhammadan followers, are styled 

 Ba-reng-gyi and Pan- the, the latter word apparently a corruption of 

 Earsi, may also be illustrated from European sources. 



Memorandum. — The accompanying lists, Nos. 1 and 2, contain 

 the names of the kings of Burma, who reigned contemporaneously 

 at Myintsaing, Pan-ya, and Tsagaing, The list No. 3 contains the 

 names of the kings of Burma who reigned at Ava from the foundation of 

 that city, until it was conquered by Bhureng Noung in the year 1555 

 A. D. The whole period of the reigns contained in the three lists, 

 amounts to 257 years, or from A, D. 1298 to A. D. 1555. By the 

 Burmese reckoning, as Ava was captured by Bhureng Noung in the 

 month of March, before the current year 916 had been completed, 

 there will appear by that reckoning one year less for the whole period 

 than is shown according to the European Calendar. 



