102 
APPENDIX. 
by the Princesses. They wished to know whether they 
ought to run away or stay; and if they stayed, whether 
there was any chance of safety for them. They entreated 
her protection and good offices with the English. Upon 
the failure at Donabew, the Barmans again somewhat re¬ 
covered their spirits, and Bandula was supported by all 
the strength the country could afford. The death of 
Bandula again threw the Court into consternation. 
Q. What, in your opinion, prevented the Burmans from 
negotiating during the war?— A. All idea of negotiation 
is repugnant to the pride of the Burmans, and contrary 
to their custom. They believe the conquering party will 
always keep what it has got, if it can; and that negotia¬ 
tion is therefore useless. Overtures to treat are always 
looked upon either as a mark of weakness, or they are 
considered as an artifice to gain time. 
Q. Do you know what was said of the first overture 
made by Sir A. Campbell to treat from Prome ?— A. 
The nine Europeans who were imprisoned were sent for 
to translate the letter of Sir A. Campbell, which perplex¬ 
ed the Court extremely ; the idea of treating in the com¬ 
manding situation in which he was then, appearing so 
utterly unaccountable to them. They endeavoured to ex¬ 
plain it in various ways. Sometimes they imagined that 
he was induced to treat from the prevalence of great sick¬ 
ness in the army; at other times, they imagined that the 
King of England had disapproved of the war; then, 
that the Seiks had risen against the English in Upper 
India ; but the most prevalent opinion was, that the King 
of Cochin China had sent a fleet of fifty ships to assist 
the Burmans. The King went the length of sending a 
dispatch-boat to the mouth of the Bangoon river, to as¬ 
certain whether the Cochin Chinese fleet had actually 
arrived or not. 
