TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
39 
itself in the vicinity of the town: the large 
suburb lying between the stockade and the river, 
and the still larger one of Tacklay, were in ruins ; 
such of the inhabitants as had not fled to our 
settlements, or taken refuge in the forests, and 
great numbers had done so, were cooped up within 
the stockade. The town seemed to be completely 
beleaguered by the Talains, who were in full oc¬ 
cupation of Dalla: the Pegu flag was flying on 
one side of the river, and the Bur man on the other. 
The only post out of the stockade which the Bur- 
mans still retained was the Great Pagoda, where 
the Sad’hauwun, or master of the household, the 
person whom our soldiers called 44 the cook,” com¬ 
manded. 
Lieutenant Pawlinson, who was left here by Sir 
A. Campbell to await our arrival, and all the Eng¬ 
lish merchants, were standing on the public wharf, 
looking out for us, and immediately came on board, 
bringing along with them our letters and packets. 
They informed us that this day had been decided 
on by the Burmans, as a fortunate one, for making 
a sortie; and indeed they had scarcely given us 
the information, when the attack actually com¬ 
menced. We were eye-witnesses to a considerable 
part of this action, and our friends, who returned 
to the stockade, and mounted the tops of the 
houses, had a full view of the whole. The cou¬ 
rage and conduct of both parties were upon the 
very lowest scale. The Burmans crept out of the 
