1874.] 
13 
Sir Arthur P. Phayre— On the History of Pegu. 
u of interest. After them followed a bastard son of the king, whose head 
“ was cut off by order of the king of Pegu’s sister, wife to him of Taungu, 
“ saying that he who was false to his father, could not be true to her. # * 
“ # # The king of Pegu in despair delivered himself up to the king of 
“ Taungu, who being possessed of the city and palace, found such treasure 
“ that he made no account of silver and other metals and riches. It is 
“ avouched for truth that he could not remove all the jewels and gold in 
“ twelve caravans, each consisting of 700 elephants and horses. The news 
“ of this treasure drew thither the king of Arakan, who contenting himself 
a with what he of Taungu undervalued, gathered above three millions, and a 
“ great train of large cannon. The king of Taungu presented him of Pegu 
“ to his sister, and she who having killed his son for betraying him, it was 
“ thought would comfort him, used him reproachfully, and afterwards seeing 
“ the king her husband inclined to mercy, caused him to be beaten to death.” 
Pegu, hut yesterday the seat of a great empire, was thus utterly over¬ 
thrown. And, strange spectacle, though the king of Arakan had some 
authority on the coast, no one seemed able or willing to become the master 
of an extensive country, with a fertile soil and a healthy climate, command¬ 
ing the outlet of a noble river, and capable of being made a great kingdom. 
The fate of this land was for the moment decided by the presence of 
European adventures, who swarmed in Pegu and Arakan. At this time, the 
king of Arakan was Meng Badza gyi, called also Thado Dhamma Badza. 
His predecessors, more than a century earlier, had been tributary, or at least 
subordinate, to the kings of Bengal ; they had adopted the custom of issuing 
a coinage, and generally inscribed thereon, in addition to their own titles, the 
Muhammadan name which each king assumed. In the reign of Meng Pha- 
laung, father of Meng Padza gyi, the kings of Bengal had become weakened, 
and he held Chittagong and the country as far as the Megna river. The 
Muhammadan name he adopted was Salim Shah ; which the Portuguese 
historian has written Xilimixa. He determined to occupy Pegu, but know¬ 
ing that the Portuguese could command the sea, he was willing to hold it, 
partly at least, through one of that nation. At this time there was a 
Portuguese youth who appears to have been a ship boy, and became a menial 
servant in the palace at Arakan. By faithful service he came to be 
thoroughly trusted, and was honoured by his master with a title signifying 
“ the faithful or honest one.” This is rendered in the Portuguese history 
“ Xenga,” and indeed appears in the Burmese history, though in the some¬ 
what contemptuous form of “ Nga Zenga.” His real name was Philip de 
Brito and Nieote. He was sent by his master in the year 1600 to hold 
Syriam for the king, but the Portuguese were to be allowed to live there 
under their own laws. The king of Arakan reserved his own rights over 
the country of Pegu generally. The Portuguese historian relates three events 
