1873.] 
135 
Sir Arthur P. Phayre —The History of Pegu. 
“ Prodigious multitude, and after one repulse took the fort of Tapuram, 
defended by 2000 Siamites, putting all to the sword with the loss of 
“ 3,000 men. By the way the city of Tuvopisam surrendered, and he sat down 
before Odiaa, the capital of Siam, which seemed to make no account of 
“that great power. James Soarez, who commanded in chief, surprized hereat, 
gave an assault and lost 10,000 men. Another attempt was made with 
elephants, but with no better success. * * * * ^ Pive months 
u being spent with the loss of 150,000 men, news was brought that 
“ Xemindoo, a man of great parts had rebelled at Pegu and killed 15,000 
“ men that opposed him. As soon as this was known in the camp, 120,000 
“ Pegues deserted, in hatred to that foreign king that oppressed, and to the 
“ insolence of James Soarez who commanded them.” 
It appears that there were some Portuguese in the city under the 
command of James Pereyra, who served the guns, and probably caused the 
failure of the attack. Certain differences are apparent in the accounts of 
the native historians and of the Portuguese, as to the causes which led to 
the retreat of the Burmese army. The former attribute it to the prudence 
of the king on seeing the great difficulties before him ; and omit to mention 
the failure of an assault. The insurrection of Xemindoo in Pe«;u at this 
time also is not mentioned. But it broke out, according both to the Burmese 
and Talaing histories, immediately after tire return of the army, and possibly 
the presence of the discontented Talaing soldiers was deemed a favourable 
opportunity. Before the insurrection, the Burmese history relates that king 
Tabeng Shwe hti had become utterly incapable from constant drunkenness, 
the liquor being supplied by a nephew of James Soarez, a youth to whom 
the emperor had taken a liking, and who was his constant companion.* At 
length, Bureng Xaung banished this young man from the country, and then 
took the whole power into his own hands. His father, who was the tributary 
king of Taungu, had died in the previous year, and one of his brothers or 
kinsmen had been appointed with the title of Meng Khaung. Bureng Naung 
was the virtual ruler of the empire, and the acknowledged successor of the 
emperor, to whom he appears to have been a faithful officer. 
It was in the month Pyatho, 911 (December, 1510), according to the 
Burmese history, that the insurrection of Thamin-htau, or Thaminhtau ra ma, 
broke out. He is called by the Portuguese 4 Xemindoo.’ He is represented 
in the Talaing history as being a son of Binya Ban, the last king but one of 
the dynasty of Wararu, by an inferior woman of the palace. He had been 
post is apparent from the Burmese history, in which subsequently his name occurs as 
Pits-tsa-rit, with the affix “ Meng,” or Lord. His miserable end will-be seen hereafter. 
* In a royal order, issued not very long ago, degrading an officer of high rank, 
this historical incident was referred to, as illustrating the evil effects of drinking 
intoxicating liquor, and the danger of familiar association with foreigners. 
