74 JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
little above the town of Prome, and on the 
same side. The place was taken by a similar 
assault, and after a similar defence, with the 
other positions. Two hundred of the enemy 
were left dead in the stockade; for here also, 
by an unlooked-for accident, part of the enemy 
were hemmed in, and unable to effect their 
escape. Among these was Maha Nemiau (Ne- 
myo, descendant of the Sun), the commander, 
a fine old man, seventy-five years of age. The 
troops which defended Simbike were of the 
people called by the Burmans, Shans ; the same 
who are called by the Siamese, and after them 
by Europeans, Lao, or Laos. They composed 
the same force which a few weeks before had 
beaten four battalions of Sepoys, at the stock¬ 
ade of Watigon (Wet-ti-kan, boar’s tank). 
Their courage at Simbike does not appear to 
have been fortified by this success. 
In reference to the actions now alluded to, a 
singular fact has been ascertained, which affords 
a curious specimen of the superstition, credu¬ 
lity, and folly of the Burmese and their Govern¬ 
ment. Finding that all their ordinary efforts 
to make head against the invaders were un¬ 
availing, they had recourse to magic; and 
among other projects of this nature, sent down 
to their army before Prome, all the women at 
