1873.] 
Sir Arthur P. Pliayre —The History of JPeyu. 137 
would not open the gates to him. But all the best officers, Burma, Talaing^ 
and Shan, had great confidence in him, and gathered to his camp. A force 
sufficient to blockade the city was thus collected. In Pegu, the struggle 
went on between the two Talaing chiefs, Thaminhtau and Thamindwut. 
The latter, in possession of the capital, exercised his authority with such 
cruelty, that the nobles called in his rival, who advanced with an army 
collected principally at Muttama. A battle was fought near the city in 
which Thaminhtau was victorious. Thamindwut was taken prisoner and 
beheaded. He had reigned for three months and a half. These events are 
thus recorded in the Portuguese history : “ Xemindoo (Thaminhtau) 
“ rebelled against the king of Pegu (Tabeng Shwe hti), and sent James 
“ Soarez to suppress him. He followed him to the city of Cevadi, and he 
“ slipping by, got into Pegu,* because the city sided with him. The queen 
“ fled to the castle,f where she was defended by twenty Portugueses till the 
‘ king came and put the rebels to flight.t The army entered the city and 
“ put to the sword not only men, women, and children, but even the beasts ; 
c ‘ nothing escaped, but what was within the liberty of James Soarez his house^ 
“ which the king had ordered should be exempted. § Above twelve thousand 
£i saved themselves therein. The plunder was unaccountable. James Soarez 
Cc alone got above three millions. At his intercession, the king pardoned a 
“ Portuguese who had furnished Xemindoo which ammunition. Though the 
“ king escaped the hands of Xemindoo, he could not the villainy of Ximi-de- 
“ Zatan (Ximi is equivalent to a Duke, and he really is one of Satan’s crea- 
ting), who murdered him in the delightful city of Zatan. || The traytor was 
“ immediately proclaimed king, and falling among the murdered Prince’s 
“ men, killed three of those that belonged to James Soarez, who fled to the 
“ city Ova, and afterwards at Pegu was reconciled to this new king, till 
“ Xemindoo, who fled before, came on again with a powerful army. Ximi 
“ commanded James Soarez and his Portugueses to march with him against 
# Tlio Portuguese historian here confuses Thaminhtau (Xemindoo) with Thamin¬ 
dwut (Ximindezaton). The first did not enter the city of Pegu until he had conquered 
the last; whereas Thamindwut entered the capital in little more than a month after 
the murder of the Emperor. Cevadi is Sarawadi, = Tharawati. 
f This may be either the queen of Tabeng Sliwe hti or of Bureng. The latter as 
wo have seen soon after joined her husband. 
J This can only refer to Bureng Naung on his march to Taungu, when, though ho 
was not attacked, ho did not venture to enter Pegu city. 
§ This sentence can only refer to the taking of tho city by Thamindwut, when 
his army would bo sure to plunder the city. The Portuguese historian has been 
puzzled by the numerous “ kings,” who in a short time enjoyed that title among the 
people. 
|| Tabeng Shwe hti was murdered some distance from the city, but within the 
territory pertaining to Tsit-taung (= Zatan). 
