1873.] 
143 
Sir Arthur P. PI i ay re —The History of Pegu. 
foreigners dressed in uniforms and armed with muskets, whose position was 
in front, flanks and rear of the emperor’s elephant. In the following 
passage, however, the Portuguese historian no doubt alludes generally to the 
conquests of Bureng Naung, including the campaign of Ava. The “ kingdom 
“ of Pegu, before not very considerable, was raised to be one of the greatest 
“ empires in Asia, by the king of Uva and Brama, assisted by 1,000 Portu- 
“ gueses under the command of Antony Ferreyra de Braganca, who served 
“ him as his natural prince.” 
Columns were despatched into the country north of Ava, and the 
-emperor himself proceeded to Mye-du on the Mu Fiver. But the rainy 
season being at hand, and the troops worn out with fatigue, it was deemed 
expedient not to advance further at this time. A garrison was placed there, 
and the emperor himself returned to Ava, and thence to Pegu, where he 
arrived in June, 1555. The new king of Ava remained in his capital. 
The emperor had before determined to build a fortified post at or 
near the ground where he had defeated Tliaminhtau, and it was completed 
in this year. This is referred to by the Portuguese historian in the following 
words : ic The king, not thoroughly satisfied with the people of Pegu, built, 
not far from it, another great and strong city.” The emperor was careful 
to observe what was required of him as a good Budhist. Additional gold 
was placed upon his father’s pagoda at Taungu, offerings were sent to the 
holy tooth relic in Ceylon, communication having been opened with 
Dhammapala, the king of that island. A scandalous custom which had 
hitherto prevailed, of annual sacrifices of animals to the Nats of the Mountain 
Pup-pa, which had existed from the time of the kings of Pugan, was 
suppressed as contrary to religion. In the Burmese history, it is stated that 
many thousands of people used to assemble annually to sacrifice bullocks, 
buffaloes, pigs, and other animals on this occasion.* 
About this time the Tsaubwa of Unbaung having died, a dispute 
occurred among the relations as to the succession. The member of the 
family who succeeded was then attacked by the Tsaubwa of Mone, and he 
appealed to the emperor for assistance. The emperor deemed this an excel¬ 
lent opportunity for subduing the whole of the Shan country, and deter¬ 
mined first to proceed against those in the north. A large army under the 
king of Taungu was assembled on that frontier to watch the southern Shans; 
while the emperor himself proceeded with his whole court to Ava, where a 
large army was also assembled. He arrived there early in 1557, and soon 
after proceeded up the Erawati to Tsampanago, where his army was assem¬ 
bled. He then marched to Momeit, tho Tsaubwa of which state had joined 
the enemy, while the king of Ava and other commanders proceeded against 
* Similar customs still exist in some remote parts of the country, though utterly 
contrary to Budhism. 
