1874.] 
19 
Sir Arthur P. Phayre-'-Ow the History of Pegu. 
Portuguese historian of Nicote’s proceedings : “ Some of the neighbouring 
“ princes, startled at this success of Nicote, sought his friendship and an 
“ alliance with the king of Portugal. The first that effected it, was the 
“ king of Taungu. Nicote marries his son , Simon, to a daughter of the king 
“ of Martaban, thereby to strengthen himself, and have the opportunity of 
“ gathering more riches. And being now desirous to rob the king of Taungu, 
“ though actually then in peace with him, to colour his wicked design, he 
“ pretends that the king was overcome by him of Ova, (as indeed he was 
“ and made tributary) since the treaty, as if that could absolve him for breach 
“ of faith. In fine, with the king of* Martaban’s assistance, he fell upon, 
“ took, and robbed him of Taungu, and returned with him and above a 
“million of gold, without hearkening to the protestations he made of continu- 
“ ino* a faithful vassal to the crown of Portugal.” 
The final catastrophe is related as follows : “ Our fortune in Pegu 
“ now declined with the same swiftness it had rise, and it was just a wicked 
“ encrease should have a sudden detriment. The violence committed by 
“ Philip de Brito Nicote on the king of Taungu provoked the anger of the 
“ king of Ova, under whose protection he was. Scarce had he heard the 
“ news, when casting on the ground his gown and veil, # he vowed to the 
“ idol Biay of Pegu, he would not enter within his gates, till this quarrel 
“ was revenged. He marched with 120,000 men, having put to seaf 400 
“ vessels of considerable strength, in which were above 6,000 of those 
“ Moors of noted valour, called de Caperuga, or ‘ that wear caps.’ All that 
“ was without the walls of Siriam he burnt, but met witli vigorous opposition 
“ at that place, notwithstanding Nicote was quite unprovided, having 
“ suffered most of his men to go for India, and being scarce of powder as 
“ who had fired the vast quantity of it found at Taungu. In this distress, 
“ he sent a soldier to buy powder at Bengala, and he run away with the 
“ money ; and having sent for some to the town of St. Thomas, they sent 
“ him none. Besides, those few Portugueses that were with him, committed 
“ such outrages, robberies, and murders, as seemed to hasten his ruin. For 
“ want of powder there was no firing of cannon; they poured boiling pitch 
“ and oil upon the enemy. His number of men might suffice, having 100 
“ Portugueses]; and 3000 Pegues. Nicote sends out three ships against the 
# I am not aware of a custom among the Burmese of making a vow by throwing 
down garments. Nor do the Burmese men now wear what could be correctly described 
as “ gown and veil.” The “ Biay of Degu,” I suppose, stands for Plira Dagun, now called 
“Shwe Dagun Plira,” the great pagoda at Bangoo i. 
f An error probably in translation for the river. The king of Ava came down the 
Erawati. 
X The Burmese history states that between four and five hundred remained as 
prisoners when the place surrendered. This number included women and children. The 
“ hundred Portugueses” refer only, no doubt, to European fighting men. 
