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commissariat, artillery, and ammunition, was enabled to cross to Hewzedah, where, upon the 18th, head-quarters were established.

Hewzedah and Keoum-zeik which adjoins it, form a large town; but, like all the other towns which they had approached, our troops found it to be wholly deserted. It had, previously to its desertion, been a place of considerable commerce, and numbered among its inhabitants several Armenian and other merchants, who dealt in indigo, which thrives remarkably well in its neighbourhood. The surrounding plains were covered with cattle, so very wild that there was the utmost difficulty in catching any of them.

Information having been received at Hewzedah, that the Kee Wongee (principal minister of the Latoo, or Council of State) was posted, with a considerable force, on the road to Lamina, about fifteen miles distant, LieutenantColonel Godwin, with a strong detachment, marched out, under cloud of night, to surprise him. But the cautious minister was not to be so surprised. Numerous beacons gave him warning of the approach of the British; and he ingloriously fled, after throwing away his robes of state, and disguising himself as a peasant. His followers instantly dispersed and sought refuge in the jungles. Two secretaries of the Latoo were all that were left dead on the field.

On the 21st, after two days' rest, the column left Hewzedah; and, having encountered in their march enormous difficulties, presented by grass and reed jungles, halted on the 24th at a village within four miles of Donoobew. Here the column first obtained a view of the enemy's works, and also of the British flotilla at anchor beneath the stockades. Above was stationed a fleet of Burman war-boats, which, upon a party of the British attempting a reconnoissance, came out in regular order, and commenced cannonading.

Donoobew was surrounded by old brick ramparts of considerable elevation, in front of which was a stockade of solid teak beams from fifteen to seventeen feet high, and which was strengthened by cross beams, connecting it with the ramparts. This stockade extended nearly a mile along the Irrawaddy, and varied in breadth from 500 to 800 yards. A ditch of great width and depth surrounded the inner defences; in advance of the ditch were several rows of strong railing; and, in front of all, was a most formidable abatis, excepting on the face of the river, which there presented an insuperable barrier. The fortification, in short, would have done credit to the most experienced engineer. In front of the face lowest down the river, were two strong outworks, one of which had been carried by the marine column, but the other had resisted its attacks. On the works 150 guns and swivels were mounted; and the garrison, amounting to 15,000 men, mostly veterans brought by Bandoolah from Arracan, were protected from shells by numerous wellexecuted traverses and excavations. The whole appearance of the place, with its numerous golden chattahs glittering in the sun, was most imposing; and indicated the utmost confidence and resolution on the part of the garrison. Bandoolah had declared his determination there to conquer or die; and the character of that chief for skill, courage, and obstinacy, prepared the besiegers for a most vigorous and protracted resistance.

On the 25th the army proceeded to invest the fort; but it was found too extensive to be surrounded even by a chain of posts. A position, therefore, was taken up, the left being made to rest upon the river, and the right to extend circularly towards the centre of the rear face of the fort, where there was a fine open plain, on which a division encamped at long shot distance. While this was being done, a great ma

ny guns were fired upon the troops from the fort; and the enemy's cavalry skirmished on their flanks. So soon, however, as they had occupied their ground, the enemy's fire ceased; but the succeeding calm was of short duration. At ten in the evening, the camp was roused and put in motion by the firing of musketry and the war-cry of the Burmans: columns of them were seen moving towards the British right, in order to turn it; while a distant fire was kept up on the centre and left, in order to distract attention. When the attacking columns had reached the extreme right of the British, they were suddenly checked by the running fire of two regiments which were posted there; and were compelled to retire, carrying with them their dead and wounded.

cavalry, covered by the horse-artillery, made a charge upon the elephants, who withstood it with unwonted steadiness. Most of their riders were shot, on which they slowly retreated within the fortifications. During the cannonade which took place between the fort and flotilla, a Burman officer was shot, while pointing his gun; on which his comrades abandoned the fatal post, and could not be prevailed on by the intreaties or threats of their superiors to return to it. Bandoolah, learning the circumstance, came to the spot where the delinquents were, and gave an example of the promptitude and severity of his discipline, by instantly decapitating them with his own hand. At length, the British fleet passed the fort, and anchored on the left of the British column.

Next day, part of the British flotilla Next day, it was resolved to open succeeded in capturing nine of the enea communication at once between the my's war-boats; and that, and the three two columns; with which view a small following days, the troops were emparty was dispatched through a jungle ployed in constructing batteries, and to the fleet, which it reached in safety. landing heavy ordnance, while the BurA little above Donoobew, there is an mans devoted themselves to strengthisland in the river; and in the farther ening their works. On the last of these channel were stationed the enemy's war- days, the following extraordinary episboats, which, sailing round the corner tle from Bandoolah, written on dirty canof the island, occasionally fired into the vass, was brought to the British camp: British camp. To drive them away, a "In war we find each other's force; small party, with rockets, crossed over the two countries are at war for nothing, to the island, and completely accom- and we know not each other's minds." plished their object. The same day, an The conduct observed by the British old pagoda, about 300 yards from the general towards the bearer of this mesenemy's works, which was selected as sage, we cannot approve of. It appears the most eligible point for first breaking to us a direct violation of the law of ground, was occupied by the 47th regi- nations-of those provisions of it, espement, which immediately commenced cially, which are indispensable to the intrenching itself. The neighbouring restoring of concord between belligeground was found to have been mined rent parties. It has been affected to and loaded, but no explosion took place. consider the message as insulting;On the 27th, the British flotilla for- for our part, we can view it in no such ced its passage up the river. So soon light, and regard it only as an attempt, as it was descried from; the fort, the an insidious one probably, on the part Burmans made a sortie in considerable of Bandoolah, to open a negotiation for force, with infantry, cavalry, and ele-peace with the British general. The phants: it was directed against the Bri- messenger, according to our view, ought tish right. While the fleet advanced unquestionably to have been treated as under the fire of the fort, the British the bearer of a flag of truce; instead of

which, however, he was threatened with the punishment of a spy, under the influence of which threat he divulged the fact of its being Bandoolah's intention to make a sally, at the head of his whole forces, on the first favourable opportunity, and conquer or perish in the attempt. Upon every fair principle, it seems to us as unfair to extort from a person, in the capacity of this Burman messenger, his employer's secrets, by threatening to put him to death as a spy, as it would be to put such a threat in execution against him ;-the only difference between the two cases being, that there would be a higher degree of cruelty in the one than the other.

On the 1st of April, the mortar batteries and rockets commenced firing on the fort, and continued to do so, at intervals, during the day and succeeding night. Their fire was very slackly returned by the garrison.

Next day, at daylight, two Lascars, who had been prisoners of war in the fort, came running out, bringing with them the most unlooked for and welcome intelligence, that Bandoolah had been killed the previous day by a rocket, and that the place had been evacuated by the garrison in the course of the evening. The British immediately entered and took possession of the place, where (such had been the hurry of the enemy's flight) they found not a gun had been removed, and the large stores of grain, collected by the Burmans, wholly uninjured. A poor fellow, with both his feet shot off, was found, who gave the following account of the catastrophe by which the brave Bandoolah perished: "I belonged to the household of Menghi Maha Bandoolah, and my business was to beat the great drums which are hanging in the veranda of the Wongee's house. Yesterday morning, between the hours of nine and ten, while the chief's dinner was preparing, he went out to take his usual morning walk round the works, and arrived at his observatory, (that tower with a red ball

upon it,) where, as there was no firing, he sat down upon a couch that was kept there for his use. While he was giving orders to some of his chiefs, the British began to throw bombs, and one of them, falling close to the Wongee, burst, and killed him on the spot. His body was immediately carried away and burned to ashes. His death was soon known to every one in the stockade, and the soldiers refused to stay and fight under any other commander. The chiefs lost all influence and command over their men, every one thinking of providing for his own personal safety."

Thus, by a random shot at the very commencement of the siege, were the British put in possession, almost without bloodshed, of a stronghold, before which the best part of their strength might have been wasted; and by that same shot did the enemy sustain an immeasurable and irreparable loss in the person of Bandoolah, the only general possessed of the confidence of the troops and the nation, and the only one who, by his superior skill, courage, and enthusiastic devotedness, seemed entitled to that confidence. His death was of more advantage to the invaders, (even putting the capture of Donoobew out of view,) than would have been the gaining of a series of pitched battles.

It is no small proof of the zeal and enthusiasm which animated the British general, that, instead of reposing in the lap of victory for a time, and joyfully meditating upon the new laurels added to his brow, he completed, in the course of the day which succeeded his capture of Donoobew, his arrangements for advancing upon Prome; and that, on the day following, namely, the 4th, the land column was in full match for that capital.

On the 12th, the column was again at Sarrawah; and on the 14th reached Uaudeet; on their march to which it heard of bands of fugitives from Donoobew, who had turned marauders, and preyed upon the defenceless peasantry. The next day the column reached Sa

baye-meum, where intelligence was received, that all the country as far up as Prome had been depopulated, so soon as the news of the fate of Donoobew had been received. The day following, it reached Monghee, where ground had been marked out by Prince Sarrawuddy for a very extensive stockade, part of which had been constructed.

British would certainly take military possession of Prome, but that their general would willingly meet the Burman deputies next day, when and where they chose to appoint, to arrange as to the protection of the inhabitants and their property.

Before daylight next day, the column was in order of battle, and in motion; and soon found itself under a ridge of hills which cover Prome to the southward, and stretch away to the southeast and east. The river forms a most powerful barrier to the town, on the west side, and is commanded for the length of a mile, by the heights, which were fortified to their summits. But the stockades were unoccupied; and the enemy having fled from every position, the column, without resistance, entered the capital of Pegu, which the retiring enemy had set in a blaze; but by the exertions of the troops, a considerable part of the buildings was saved from the ravages of the fiery element.

On the 19th, after three days' march, the column reached Huddadoon, situated in a beautiful plain, studded with (a sad appearance) villages smoking in their ashes. From this position, a view was obtained, for the first time, of the lofty chain of mountains, called Anaupectomiew, which divides Arracan from Ava. Here, an elderly man came into the British camp, as the bearer of a proposal from two Attawoons or councillors of his Burman Majesty, for terminating the war by treaty. This envoy, having most undiplomatically got tipsy, whispered into the general's ear, They are frightened out of their wits, and you may do what you please with It was found that the Prince of Sarthem." The answer returned to the rawuddy had been at Prome, where he proposal signified the readiness of the had determined to make an obstinate Anglo-Indian government to conclude stand; for which he was rapidly collecta peace; and that, on the arrival of the ing the whole disposable force of the army at Prome, every facility would kingdom. The expected reinforcebe afforded of opening negotiations. It ments were within a few days' march of became evident, in the sequel, that the the place, when the subtle design of the sole drift of the proposal was to stay enemy was suddenly frustrated by the the advance of the British upon Prome. unexpected advance of the British On the 20th the column marched troops. The prince and his followers from Huddadoon; and, at the end of precipitately fled; and, in their route, five days' march, on the 24th, arrived laid waste the villages, and drove the at Daringabayah, where it obtained a helpless inhabitants into the woods. It view of the heights of Prome, and of was learnt, that Sarrawuddy had rallied the British flotilla anchored beneath it. his forces at Melloon; and that orders Here another communication was re- had been issued for raising an additional ceived from the Burman authorities; body of 30,000 men; but so stunning the import of which was, that the city was the effect of the past events of the should not be occupied by the British war, that few of the natives could be -that there was an army on each side urged, even by the dread of their sove--and that between the two there was reign's vengeance, to rally round the sufficient ground for holding a confer- national standard; and it was found neence upon. As the object of this com-cessary (a fact unprecedented in Burmunication obviously was to gain time, man history) to offer a bounty, equal the answer returned was, that the to about £20 sterling, to each recruit

The wet season approaching, it was judged impolitic then to advance the army farther into the enemy's country; but it was determined, in the meantime, to dispatch a small expedition for the purpose of clearing the surrounding country of the military bands which were ravaging it, and to penetrate eastward as far as Tonghoo, a walled city of great consequence, situate 100 miles distant from Prome. The first two days' march of the expedition was over a fertile champagne country, which was succeeded by a luxuriant wilderness, in which were nestled a few solitary cottages. Occasionally it came upon villages; and as care had been taken to apprize the inhabitants of the approach and friendly designs of the troops, they were found at the doors of their houses, staring with wonder upon their new visitors. The confidence of these people was easily acquired; and whenever the tents of our soldiers were pitched, the natives appeared, to offer them fowls and other commodities for sale or barter. The appearance of the huts was very far remote from that of comfort, according to what would be an English peasant's idea; but still the people appeared contented and cheerful. Weaving looms, which may be considered a mark of at least incipient civilization, were common among them. Where the Burmese troops had been, there was desolation-houses tenantless and plundered; and at intervals was seen some solitary sentinel, at the skirts of the forest, into which the natives had fled, watching the progress of the party.

The expedition at length reached Tagoondine, forty miles distant from Prome, and at the bottom of the Galadzet Mountains, which separate the province of Prome from that of Tonghoo. These mountains are inhabited by Krayns, a harmless but uncouth race, among whom the practice of tattooing the face prevails. To advance beyond the point the expedition had reached, was impossible, on account of

the setting in of the rains; but a small division was ordered to ascend the pass over the mountains, which, however, it was found impossible to effect.

The expedition retired from Tagoondine towards Meaday, a deserted town, with an old brick wall, which appeared to have been recently stockaded. At every village on their homeward route our troops were shocked by the marks of the atrocious excesses committed by the Burman soldiers, acting, doubtless, by the commands of their chiefs, whose policy it was to reduce the British to the strait of famine. In most of the villages, dogs, howling for want, were the only living beings to be seen. Sometimes, a few of the inhabitants were discovered, with their cattle and other property, lying concealed within the jungle, and assurances of protection were given to them, if they would return to their homes; but the far greater proportion had been driven to a distance by the armed police. At length the party reached Prome in safety.

While the excursion we have described was being accomplished, the commander-in-chief was not inactive at head-quarters. On the approach of the rainy season, early in June, cantonments for the troops were prepared in the neighbourhood of Prome; and proclamations were issued, inviting the inhabitants to return, and promising them protection and liberal payment for the commodities they had to dispose of. The effect of these proclamations was almost magical. The people instantly returned in shoals, bringing along with them such of their property as had escaped military rapine, and reinstated themselves in their former habitations; and, in a few days, such is the active, cheerful disposition of the Peguins, Prome, with the accession of strangers, who came to settle there, relying upon British protection, rose to more than its former magnitude. Innumerable flocks were seen to issue from the forest recesses, and cover the

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