100 
Appendix. 
Q. What is their present opinion of the European 
troops ?— A. They consider them nearly invincible, fierce, 
and blood-thirsty, and discovering almost supernatural 
prowess. I have heard them compare them in action to a 
particular class of demons, called Balu, that, according 
to Burrnan notions, feed on human flesh. They have 
compared the rapidity of their movements to a whirl¬ 
wind. The skill of the Europeans in the use of artillery, 
and especially in that of rockets and shells, astonishes 
them, and is incomprehensible to them. I should add, 
that the forbearance and moderation of the European 
troops after victory, and their obedience to command^ 
and regularity of discipline, is a subject of admiration 
with them. In comparison with the Sepoys, they also 
observed that they were indifferent to plunder. 
Q. Are you aware when this revolution in regard to 
the character of the European soldiery took place with 
the Burmans P— A. The first circumstance of the war 
which made a deep impression on the Burrnan Court, was 
the sudden and complete destruction, to use the language 
of the Burmans themselves, of the Thongha Woonghee 
and his party of about one thousand men, in a stockade 
near Rangoon. I heard from a Burmese who was present 
in the action, and who, for some political offence, on his 
return to Ava, became my fellow-prisoner, that this was 
effected by about three hundred Europeans. The Court 
joeing displeased with the procrastination of Ki Woon¬ 
ghee, had sent Thongha Woonghee, a brave but hot¬ 
headed man, to supersede him. This person was deter¬ 
mined to fight. He sent, I think, an Armenian as a spy 
to Rangoon, who brought back news that the English 
were preparing to attack his stockade. The messenger 
was put to death for bringing accounts tending to dis¬ 
courage the troops; hut the execution was hardly over. 
