36 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
Irawadi from Pantano, a district of the province 
of Bassein. Among them were a considerable 
number of Chinese. It seemed that the people 
of Pantano had been ordered to attack the Talains 
at the post of Panlang. In the mean time Ma- 
ong-pyu, the head of the Karians of Pegu, who is 
in alliance with Maong-zat, assaulted Pantano, 
and took it on his way to the attack of Bassein. 
He was reported to be at the head of three thou¬ 
sand followers. The old Wun of Bassein, like a 
genuine Burman Chief, not choosing to incur the 
personal risk of entering the districts in a state of 
insurrection, quitted us that morning. He was, 
however, sufficiently candid on the subject, and 
did not conceal his fears. Just at the commence¬ 
ment of the Pan goon branch there was a small 
post of the Burmese, the only one which they 
held down to Rangoon. Waiting high-water to 
pass it, we anchored seven miles within this 
branch, where there was a bar; this we effected 
at seven in the evening, being luckily favoured 
by the highest spring-tides, without which we 
could not have got over, for even then we had 
barely a fathom water ; and the vessel, now much 
lightened, drew very nearly six feet. 
At seven in the morning of the 16th we pro¬ 
ceeded, and soon passed Samalaok, where we 
found a breast-work newly erected, but aban¬ 
doned. The village itself, and the few others 
upon the bank, had been also abandoned, and 
