CO CHIN CHIN A. 
supposed to ba^'e been brought on by rage and despair at the 
success of the lawful King ; but another report says, that his 
phrenzy was so ungovernable that it was found expedient to 
get rid of him by poison. His son succeeded to the govern- 
ment, who possessed all the vices without the talents of his 
father. Cruel, deceitful, and vindictive, he was hated by 
every one. Caung-shung, in the 3^ear 1796, resolved to attack 
his capital by land. The young usurper was enabled to bring 
against him an army of 100,000 men ; but the King com- 
pletely routed it with a very inferior force, and took posses- 
sion of Quin-nong. On this occasion an extraordinary in- 
stance of magnanimity is related of Caung-shung. When the 
garrison had surrendered, the Kino', havino; been en2;ao;ed in 
person the whole day sword in hand and worn out with fatigue, 
threw himself into a sedan chair, in order to be conveyed into 
the citadel. On passing the inner gate he was fired at by a 
person on the rampart. His guards advancing immediately 
seized the culprit, whom they brought before the King with 
his hands bound behind him. It was discovered that he was 
a general officer, and a relation of the usurper. The King, 
according to the custom of the Chinese when they mean to 
mitigate the sentence of death passed on a criminal, told him 
that instead of ordering his head to be struck off, which he so 
well merited, he would allow him, in consideration of his 
rank, to chuse his own punishment, being presented at the 
same time Avith a bowl of poison, a cord of silk, and a dagger. 
" If you are not afraid of me," said the rebel chief, " you 
" will instantly order my releast ; and, as I have SAvorn never 
" to live under your protection, or to be obedient to your 
" laws, if you dare to comply with what I ask, I shall im- 
