32 
JOU11NAL OF AN EMBASSY 
our part was attended by very unpleasant con¬ 
sequences. By encroaching from one step to 
another, the Burmese had there gradually occu¬ 
pied the whole province first, and finally the 
town, so as to leave our small detachment only 
the ground on which it stood. A party of 
Mohammedan and Chinese merchants, some of 
whom had settled in the place during our oc¬ 
cupation, and who had prepared their boats to 
quit along with us, were arrested ; and but for 
the prudent forbearance of Captain Alves, who 
was in civil charge of the province, serious con¬ 
sequences would have ensued. When the mat¬ 
ter was made known to the British Commis¬ 
sioners, they insisted upon the release of the par¬ 
ties arrested, through the Wungyi at Henzada, 
who immediately complied with their requisi¬ 
tion. In the mean time, a heavy contribution 
had been levied upon them, under various pre¬ 
texts. From some, arrears of custom-house 
duties were demanded, during the period that 
Bassien was in our occupation, although all du¬ 
ties had been taken off. The amount of these 
contributions was also restored through the de¬ 
mand of the Commissioners. Similar encroach¬ 
ments were even attempted at Rangoon. The 
opposite town and district of Dalla were claim¬ 
ed for the residence of the Governor and the 
