1873.] 
Sir Arthur P. Phayre —The History of Pegu. 
121 
Budhist monks, and came to Pegu. She was received by her brother with 
great distinction, and now becomes known in Peguan history as Tliakheng, 
or Sheng-tsau-bu. 
When Monhyin Meng-ta-ra succeeded to the throne of Ava, the ruler 
of Taungu, Theng-kha-ra, declared himself independent, and claimed to he 
the rightful king of Ava. He entered into correspondence with Binya 
Bankit, proposing that they should march with their joint armies to take 
Prome, and promising, if he was successful in gaining the throne of Ava, to 
present annually gold and silver flowers in token of allegiance. This was 
agreed to, and a force of 35,000 men with five hundred elephants, under the 
command of Tha-min-pa-ran, and 30,000 men by the river under Binya-in, 
proceeded to Prome. 
The king himself went by water ; the king of Taungu marched his 
men across the mountains, and the allied armies then invested Prome. The 
king of Ava was too much occupied at home in securing his own position, 
to be able to send any succour to Prome. The governor of that city was, 
therefore, obliged to surrender it. But negociations were opened, and Binya 
Bankit married a daughter of the king of Ava, and then appears to have 
deserted his ally. Ava and Pegu were now on good terms, hut the historian 
is silent as to what was done with Prome. Pegu was prosperous in this king’s 
reign, and he was much beloved. He repaired and adorned the two great 
national pagodas Shwe-maw-dau and Shwe-ta-kun. He died in the year 
808, or A. D. 1146, after a reign of twenty years. 
This king’s successor was his nephew and adopted son, Binya Wa-ru, the 
son of Sheng-tsau-bu by her first husband. He reigned only four years. 
He was careful as to the administration of justice ; the country was quiet; 
and there was unrestricted commerce with the adjoining kingdom. 
The next king was Binya Keng, a son of Binya Bankit. The Burmese 
history says that he was assisted to gain the throne by Narapati, king of Ava. 
He reigned only three years, and was succeeded by Mhau-dau, his cousin. 
This King was a cruel tyrant, and put to death all the male members 
of the royal family whom he could lay hold of. The whole people, clergy 
and laity, joined against him, and five noblemen put him to death. He 
reigned only seven months. All the leading men of the country now im¬ 
plored queen Sheng-tsau-bu, the daughter of Badzadirit, to take the sover¬ 
eign power of the kingdom. She consented and was consecrated. All the 
people, Mun, Mrarnma and Kula, rejoiced, and the country had rest. The 
queen received letters from the kings of surrounding countries, and beyond 
sea from Ceylon and Bij-ja-na-ga-ran, with which there was much com¬ 
merce. The queen was devoted to religion ; religious buildings were repair¬ 
ed or erected ; and the two great national pagodas were entirely re-gilded. 
Additional land was assigned to them, and live hundred lamilies were dedi- 
