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CHAPTER CCLXVII.

623 B. C. to A. D. 1767.

Description of Farther India. BURMAH. Early History of the Burmese Wars with the Peguans-Rise of Alompra — Independence of Burmah established - Death of Alompra —

Reign of Shenbu-Yen.

THE name of Farther India, or India beyond the Ganges, was applied by the ancients to the region now

constituting the kingdoms of Burmah, Sane R.

Assam, Siam, Tonquin, Cochin China,
Pegu, Cambodia, Laos, and Malacca.
It has also been called by modern geog-
raphers Chin India, or Indo-China.

The geographical knowledge of the ancients scarcely reached the shores of the Ganges; although Ptolemy gives a description of a peninsula he calls the Golden Chersonesus, which has been identified with Malacca. The whole region may be described as an extensive maritime territory, throwing out wide peninsular tracts into the affnapatamIndian Sea, and separated by various seas, straits, and lands, from the large islands on the south. It is divided from Hindostan on the west by the Bay of Bengal, while on the north a range of mountains and other imperfectly known boundaries separate it from China and Thibet. The surface of this territory exhibits a series of mountain ranges running

from north to south, and forming branches of the great chain of the Himmaleh. Between these ranges descend broad valleys, generally of extreme fertility, and watered by large rivers, which rise on the frontiers of China and Thibet. The interior of the country, especially the mountainous portion, has been little explored, and appears to be covered with extensive forests, entangled with thick underwood and filled with wild beasts.

The most important part of Farther India is known to us under the name of Burmah, or the Burman Empire. This empire comprises at present Burmah Proper, the greater part of the kingdom of Pegu, a portion of Cassey, and nearly all the territory of the Shans, or Shyans, lying between Thibet and Siam. It is upwards of seven hundred miles in length, and four hundred in breadth.

The natives of Burmah Proper call their country Myamma, or Byamma, from which Europeans have formed the name of Burmah, or Birmak. The early historical fictions of these people are as extravagant as

* Of the territories of Farther India, the provinces of Arracan, Yeh, Tavoy, and Tenasserim, lying on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, Assam, and the district around the city of Malacca, belong to the British. The remainder is subject to native governments.

those of the Hindoos. They pretend to be several millions of years old; but the earliest probable date in this stupendous chronology is the epoch of Anjina, the grandfather of Gaudama, which latter is regarded as the last mortal in whose person the deity Buddha became incarnate. The epoch of Anjina corresponds to the year B. C. 691. In the sixty-eighth year of this epoch, or B. C. 623, Gaudama was born. From this period, the chronological tables of the Burmese are kept with an appearance of great accuracy: there is, however, little in them of an early date which throws any light on the history of the country.

The city of Prome, on the River Irawaddy, appears to have been founded B. C. 443, and this is the first city mentioned as the seat of government of Burmah. About this time, the Buddhist religion is supposed to have been introduced here. Prome continued to be the metropolis for three hundred and ninety-five years, when the court removed to Paghan, farther north on the same river. Here it continued nearly twelve centuries, when, about A. D. 1300, Pan-ya was made the capital, and afterwards, Sagaing, near Ava, the present metropolis. Both the former cities were destroyed by the Shyans in 1363.

About the year 1526, the Shyans again invaded

Burmah, overran the country as far as Prome, put the king to death, and held the kingdom in subjection for nineteen years, after which the Burmese expelled them. In 1546, the highlanders of Burmah revolted, and established a separate kingdom. Pegu was, at this time, a part of the Burmese dominions. Shortly after, the Shyans were conquered, and the kingdom began to assume a consequence which it never before possessed. In 1567, the Burmese, aided by the people of Laos and their Shyan tributaries, conquered Siam, and held that country in subjection for thirty years. The latter country afterwards regained its independence; but a deep-rooted enmity remained between the two nations, and hostilities were of frequent recurrence.

In 1740, the Peguans rose in rebellion, and a furious war distracted the country for twelve years. The Portuguese and Dutch joined the insurgents, and enabled them to conquer Ava, the capital of Burmah. Dweep Dee, the last of a long line of Burman kings, was made prisoner, with all his family, except two sons, who escaped to Siam. Bing Della, the Peguan leader, placed his son Apporasa on the throne of Burmah, and returned to his own hereditary dominions in the south. The Burmese now appeared to be completely subjected to the sway of their rivals, when an extraordinary individual arose, who, by his talents, energy, and good fortune, completely changed the destiny of his country, and founded a new dynasty of kings in Burmah. This was Along Pra, commonly called Alompra, a Burmese of obscure birth, but who first attracted notice as the chief of Mokesobo, a little village twelve miles from Ava. About a year after the Peguan conquest, he raised a rebellion, gathered a band of devoted adherents, and attacked the conquerors on every favorable occasion. After gaining some minor advantages, he acquired such fame that the Burmese flocked to his standard in great numbers. Extraordinary courage, prudence, and wisdom marked his course, and success attended him every where. In the autumn of 1753, he marched with a large force upon Ava, defeated the Peguan army, and made himself master of the capital.

After a sanguinary war of several years, Alompra triumphed completely over the Peguan invaders, and Burmah was freed from foreign dominion. The successful chief maintained the preeminence he had thus acquired, and assumed the crown. Proceeding in his career of conquest, he invaded Cassay, and reduced the Shyans to complete subjection. He next carried his arms into Tavoy, which was then an independent kingdom, and added this country to his dominion. The Siamese now began to be jealous of the new power which had thus suddenly grown up on their borders: they joined with the Peguans in aiding the Tavoyese to rebel. But Alompra, whose talents and energy were equal to any emergency, not only crushed this rebellion, but advanced into Siam, captured the city of Mergui, and subjected the whole Siamese province of Tenasserim. Following up his course of victories, he traversed the greater part of the kingdom of Siam without any effectual resistance, and laid siege to the capital. The city was on the point of surrendering, which would have been followed by the submission of the whole country, when Alompra was seized with a violent illness, of which he died in a few days, May 15th, 1760.

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to the task of accomplishing his own great designs. The officers of the camp concealed his death from the army, and gave orders for a retreat. This was effected in good order, and without much molestation from the enemy. On the arrival of the force at Martaban, then a great city of Burmah, the decease of the king was announced, and the funeral rites took place. Alompra was succeeded by his son Namdogyee-Pra, who removed the seat of government to Sagaing, but reigned only four years. He was succeeded by his brother Shenbu-Yen, who kept his court at Ava, and reigned twelve years with considerable splendor. He conquered Cassay, suppressed a revolt among the Shyans, and subdued the district of Zemmai. In 1767, the Chinese, with an immense army, invaded Burmah, and approached the capital, but were routed in a pitched battle, with great slaughter. They renewed the invasion some years afterward, but with no better success; and the two nations have, since this time, remained at peace.

CHAPTER CCLXVIII.

A. D. 1767 to 1837.

Wars with the Siamese - Reign of Mendera-gyee - Nun-Sun - War with the British - Present State of Burmah.

THE Siamese having invaded the territory of the Shyans, the latter solicited the aid of the Burmese king, who immediately marched an army into Siam, overran the kingdom, and captured Ayuthia, then the metropolis. The Siamese give an appalling description of the behavior of the conquerors, though this is not unlike other histories of Eastern warfare. Plunder and slaves seem to have been the chief object of the invaders, and in this pursuit every sort of atrocity appears to have been committed. Shenbu-Yen died in 1776, and was succeeded by his son Shengu-za, who, after a reign of five years, lost his life in a mutiny. Moung-Moung, the son of Namdogyee, was placed on the throne by the mutineers. He was little better than an idiot; but, having been educated under the care of this party, and accustomed to submit to their direction, he was deemed a fit instrument for the accomplishment of their projects. His imbecility, however, and the dissensions among his advisers, led to the defeat of these schemes. The fourth son of Alompra, named Mendera-gyee, claimed the crown, and by his courage and energy succeeded in overthrowing the partisans of Moung-Moung, who, after a reign of eleven days, was deposed and publicly drowned, in conformity to the Burmese mode of executing the members of a royal family. Forty of his wives, with their children, were put into a house together, and blown up with gunpowder.

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ing the wars and cruelties by which it was marked, | the kingdom was highly prosperous. He founded the city of Ummerapoora, on the Irawaddy, six miles above Ava, and established the seat of government there. In 1783, he added Arracan to his extensive dominions. In 1786, he began a war with Siam for the possession of Tavoy and Mergui, which had revolted at the instigation of that power. This war continued till 1793, when these provinces were annexed to the Burman empire.

This monarch, in the early part of his life, showed a religious turn of mind, and seemed to feel remorse for the murderous deeds which attended his elevation to the throne. In the second year of his reign, he built the costly temple called Ayong-mye-lo-ka at Sagaing, and bestowed upon it four hundred and forty slaves. He studied the Bedagat, or Buddhist Bible, associated much with the priests, built various religious structures, and commenced the stupendous pagoda at Mengoon, which, if completed, would equal in size some of the Egyptian pyramids. But the study of the Bedagat, and the conversation of the priests, gave him such a knowledge of the current superstitions of the day, as to entirely unsettle his religious belief. He built no more temples and gave no more gifts to religious establishments. The immense edifice at Mengoon was left unfinished, on the pretext that the Brahminical astrologers had predicted that his death would take place as soon as it should be completed. He proclaimed the priests to be utterly ignorant, idle, and luxurious, and finally issued an edict, expelling them all from their sumptuous abodes, and requiring them to live according to their neglected rules, or return to labor. For a long time, there was scarcely a priest to be seen in the Burman empire. Mendera-gyee lived to his eighty-first year, and died in a state of dotage, A. D. 1819.

He was succeeded by his grandson Nun-Sun, a name which signifies "he enjoys a palace." Menderagyee left several sons, whose claims to the throne preceded those of Nun-Sun; but the latter had been the favorite of his grandfather, and was formally adopted by him as heir during his life. The Burman empire had now become extensive and powerful, comprising Burmah Proper, Pegu, Tavoy, Tenasserim, Arracan, Munipore, Cachar, Assam, Jyntea, and part of Laos. The four last provinces were acquired during the reign of Nun-Sun. This monarch was married, in early life, to one of his cousins; but another of his wives, the daughter of an inferior officer, acquired great influence over him, and on his accession was publicly crowned queen. His plans for securing the succession show that he was aware that even the late king's will would not secure him from powerful opposition. His death was kept secret for some days, and the interval was employed in stationing soldiers in different parts of the city to prevent any insurrection. On the announcement of the demise of the king, the ceremony of burning his body took place in the palace yard. Several of the princes, suspected of disaffection to his cause, were put to death, and many others were deprived of their estates.

In 1821, the king determined to remove the seat of government from Ummerapoora to Ava. Several reasons induced him to make this change. A great fire had destroyed a considerable part of the former city, including the public buildings; the king wished for a more splendid palace than that of the old capital; and

lastly, a vulture had lighted on the spire of his dwelling at Ummerapoora: this ill omen was perhaps the strong. est of all the three motives for making the removal. For two years after the transfer of the court to Ava, the king resided in a temporary dwelling, superintending the erection of his new palace, which was double the size of the old one. In February, 1824, a grand festival was celebrated on the completion of the palace, and the king, attended by all his court, with great pomp and ceremony, took formal possession of his new residence.

Troubles, however, were in preparation for the "Lord of the Golden Palace," as this monarch styled himself. Only a few weeks after this festival, news arrived at Ava that the British had invaded the Burman dominions, and captured several important places. For a quarter of a century previous, there had existed difficulties between the Burman authorities and the British East India Company. Outlaws and political refugees from Burmah had settled in the Company's territories, on the north-western frontier of Burmah, from which they frequently made plundering incursions into the latter country. When they retreated across the boundary, the British refused to allow the Burman troops to pursue them. The Burmese authorities were provoked to take some decisive measures to repress these marauding expeditions; the quarrel quickly became aggravated, and the British declared war in 1824.

A British army immediately invaded Burmah, and captured the important town of Rangoon, in the delta of the Irawaddy. The court of Ava heard of this loss with surprise, but without alarm. The Burmese had not yet been taught the superiority of European courage and military skill. So confident were they of capturing the whole British army, that many of the court ladies made bargains with the officers of the Burmese forces for numbers of white slaves: the only fear was, that the British would retreat before their enemies could have time to catch them. The Burmese army, consisting of sixty thousand men, took the field in great spirits, and marched toward Rangoon. They were commanded by a general of high reputation, named Bundoolah. A battle of six days' duration took place, and ended in the defeat of the Burmese. The rainy season and the sickness of the British troops retarded military operations; but in the following year, the invaders captured the city of Prome. The Burmese collected another army of eighty thousand men, but were again defeated; and the British advanced to Yandabo, within forty-five miles of Ava. The king now made proposals for peace; and on the 24th of February, 1826, a treaty was signed, by which the provinces of Assam, Arracan, Yeh, Tavoy, and Tenasserim, were ceded to the British.

From this time, the Burman empire has remained in tranquillity, and improved in civilization and prosperity. No longer able to make war upon its neighbors, its frontiers were rendered secure and quiet. The inhabitants became better acquainted with foreigners, and abated much of their pride and arrogance. Beneficial innovations were less resisted than formerly; and though the forms of government remain unaltered, it is administered in a more liberal and rational spirit. The king having become subject to periodical fits of insanity, the chief power was exercised by the prince of Sallay, the queen's brother. This reign continued in tranquillity till 1837, when Nun-Sun died, and was

fierce gesticulations.

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CHAPTER CCLXIX.

The Burmese have a river-navy consisting of large war boats designed to act on the great rivers which form the main channels of communication between the different parts of Farther India. They are built of the solid trunk of the teak-tree, sometimes one hundred feet in length, though very narrow. Every town near a river is obliged to furnish a certain number of these boats, the whole number of which is

State Elephant of Burmah.

THE Burman empire is about equal to France in extent of territory. Few countries have had their population so variously estimated. The old geographers stated it at thirty millions. More recent calculations have fixed it at eight millions, which include the Shyans and other tributaries. A census of the houses was taken some years since; they amounted to three hundred thousand. The military strength of the empire consists almost entirely of a species of feudal militia. All males of a certain age are enrolled, and may be called upon to serve in war, under the chiefs of their respective districts. There is no standing army, though a few men are hired by the month, in some principal places, to bear arms as a sort of guard. There is no military class, as among the Hindoos; but it is never difficult to muster an army, as each petty chief is obliged to raise his quota of troops by conscription. A Burmese army, however, is a mere rabble; destitute of martial spirit and of skilful officers. The soldiers march under the men who rule them in private life, and can seldom have any inducement to leave their homes. The common practice has been to pay the soldiers only by allowing them to plunder; but in the war with the British, they received regular wages and a large bounty. A Burmese army, on its march, ravages its own territory as well as that of the enemy. Their arms are mostly swords, lances, and crossbows, though firearms have been recently introduced. The Burman soldiers, though deficient in military discipline, are hardy and courageous. In the hour of battle, they throw off their tur

fifty to sixty rowers each, who are provided with swords and lances. There are also in each boat thirty musketeers, and in the bow a six pound or twelve pound cannon. Many of these boats are gilded within and without, including the oars. The state barges, in particular, are covered with ornamental carved work highly gilt.

Ava, the capital of Burmah, is a regularly built city, with wide, straight, and clean streets, crossing each other at right angles. Its walls are twenty feet high, and seven miles in circuit. A vast number of white and gilded spires, rising above the mass of houses, give the city an imposing appearance from without; but this dazzling exterior excites an expectation which is not realized within. The houses are of wood or bamboo, no way superior to those in other parts of the country. The religious edifices form the most prominent objects. The most remarkable of these are the kyoungs, or monasteries. These are very large, and sometimes consist of a number of buildings, each of the size of a common church, connected by galleries and surrounded by walls. The roofs have the royal and sacred peculiarity of successive stages one above the other. Almost every part is richly carved with figures in bass-relief, and covered with gold. The effect is very dazzling, but not being in harmony with our Western notions of good taste, conveys an idea rather of childishness than of sublimity. These buildings are seen in every part of the city, enclosed by fine brick walls and shady walks. Some of them contain five hundred inmates, consisting of priests and students. The pagodas of Ava are also very magnificent; some of them are above two hundred feet high. The royal palace is built entirely of wood. It comprises nearly a hundred buildings, of different sizes, and covers a space a quarter of a mile in extent. It abounds in lofty pillars covered with gold, and tall spires and steeples. Ava has many colossal statues of bell metal, marble, and stuccoed brick. The population is about one hundred thousand.

Ummerapoora, the former capital, is still a large city, though it suffered much from the ravages of a fire in 1823. The space within its walls is nearly desolate, but the suburbs are very populous. A large number of Chinese reside here, and carry on a considerable trade with their own country by means of caravans. Here is to be seen a huge bell, weighing three hundred thousand pounds, and some of the largest brass cannon in the world. The citadel is a mile square, and contains the royal palace. Ummerapoora is supposed to be equal to Ava in population.

Rangoon is the commercial emporium of Burmah, and is situated on one of the mouths of the Irawaddy, in a level spot elevated but little above high tides. The houses are mere bamboo huts. The chief architectural ornament is the great temple of Shoo-da-gon, which stands on a hill near the city. The custom-house