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APPENDIX. 
that the partial communication which was made on the 
subject nearly at the close of the negotiation, seems to have 
originated in a casual communication made from the Autho¬ 
rities in the lower provinces about this time. 
The introduction of the question of emigration by the 
Burmese negotiators, appeared a suitable moment for bring¬ 
ing forward the important question of the release of the 
Asiatic prisoners seized by the Burman Government in the 
course of the war, and detained in contravention of the 
eleventh article of the Treaty of Yandabo, which was ac¬ 
cordingly done in the conferences of the 2d and 5th of 
December, a note being formally given in on the latter day 
on the subject. As far as the statements of the prisoners 
themselves can be relied upon, it appears that there are 
from six to seven thousand persons, taken captive during 
the war, now forcibly detained in the Burman dominions, 
and in a state of slavery : these chiefly consist of natives of 
Munnipore, Cachar, and Assam, with a few inhabitants of 
the district of Sylhet. 
By the English draft of the Treaty of Yandabo, the re¬ 
lease of all prisoners whatsoever, European, American, or 
Asiatic, is expressly stipulated for. The Burman version, 
however, is not so favourable; for, as far as Indian are con¬ 
cerned, it provides only for the release of such persons as 
come under the name of black Kulas; that is to say, as far 
as the present case is concerned, of all persons of the Chris¬ 
tian, Mohammedan, and Hindoo persuasions, being inhabi¬ 
tants of the states and countries lying north-west of the 
Burman dominions. I much fear that it excludes the fol¬ 
lowers of the Buddhist faith, who are inhabitants of Aracan, 
Cassay, Cachar, and Assam; composing, in all probability, 
the majority of the prisoners. 
The honour of the Government is concerned in seeing 
justice done to the unfortunate persons now alluded to; 
