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JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
defence of Bengal, was cut off by an act of treach¬ 
ery and assassination on the part of the renown¬ 
ed Alompra ; for it appears that the enterprise, 
through fair means, was above the strength of this 
mighty conqueror. The true motives were ex¬ 
plained to Captain Alves, in the mission of this 
officer, which took place in the following year, 
1760. His courtiers represented to Alompra, 
“ that the English were a very dangerous people, 
and, if not prevented in time, he would find, 
would act in the same manner as they had done 
in Bengal, and on the coast, where the first settle¬ 
ments were made in the same manner as at 
Negrais, but that, by degrees, they had fortifi¬ 
ed themselves, and brought men, and all manner 
of military stores in, under various pretences, till 
they thought they were strong enough, then they 
pulled off the mask, and made kings whom they 
pleased, and levied all the revenues of the country 
at discretion.” 
The apprehension entertained by the Burmans 
of our power has, in all likelihood, given rise to pro¬ 
phecies existing amongst them, that their country 
is to be conquered by a race of white men. Such 
a prophecy is even of earlier date than the con¬ 
quests of Alompra. Captain George Baker, the 
officer already quoted, makes the following curi¬ 
ous statement on this subject. “ I cannot help 
taking notice of another prophecy, universally 
