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CHAPTER XV.

ASIA.-Burman Empire-Origin of War with Britain-Shapuree Doodpatlee-Ramoo-Expedition to Rangoon-Operations thereMartaban taken-Bundoola beaten-State of things in 1825-Donabew, Prome, and Arracan taken-Assau Cochar-Mortality in the English Army-Armistice of Meeaday-Hostilities renewed--Melloon -Pagan-Mew taken-Treaty of Peace-Bhurtpore--Netherlands -India.

The remoteness of most of the independent nations of Asia, and the half civilized character of their population, render it difficult to obtain recent and authentic accounts of their history, except in their connections with Europeans and Americans. Much of the most interesting portions of that country, is subject to the government of Europeans. Russia, in the north, and England, in the south, cover an immense tract of Asiatic territory. Arabia, is dependant on Egypt. Of Turkey, we gave a history, in association with Greece. There remains little to recount, in the incidents of the last year or two, excepting the progress of the Burmese war; the existing contest between Russia and Persia, having been described in the history of the Russian empire.

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The Burman dominions occupy a large extent of territory, on the eastern frontiers of the British pos

sessions, in India, lying betwixt them and China. Their whole male population, is liable to be called into war. Formerly, the territory of this empire, consisted of several independent states, which were afterwards forcibly united under one head, by conquest. They had, according to the British accounts, much annoyed the inhabitants of the contiguous British frontiers, for several years; and although warned of the consequences, would not desist from acts of aggression. In order to comprehend the origin of the war, it is necessary to explain the relative situation of the partics.

The eastern frontier of Bengal, is a line of impenetrable forest, and hills, affording but three points of communication with the neighboring nations. Of these, the northernmost, is by the valley of the large river Brahmapootra, known as the country of Assam; the next, by

the valley of the Soorma, called the Cachar country, lying contiguous to the district of Sylhet; and the last, next the sea coast, at the southern extremity of the Chittagong, where the British territory is divided from Arracan, by the Naf, which river was, repeatedly, recognized, as the mutual boundary there. Arracan had been conquered, in 1783, by the Burmese, who, ever since the establishment of the reigning dynasty, under Alompra, in the middle of the last century, have been a nation of conquerors.

At the mouth of the Naf, lies an alluvial island, which is nearest to the Bengal side of the river, named Shapuree. A dispute arising, in regard to the property of this insignificant islet, it was claimed, and occupied by the British authorities, for the purpose of maintaining the claim. In consequence thereof, and to assert the right, on their side, the Burmese landed on the island, September 24th, 1823, and expelled the party stationed there, killing some of the soldiers.

This was the immediate commencement of hostilities; for no

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occupied a post within a few miles of their Sylhet frontier. At the same time, they planned the occupation of Jyntea, another small state, half dependant on the company; but the advance of a British force prevented its execution.

In the mean time, the troops of Burmah and Assam, to the num ber of five thousand, fixed their stations at Bickrampore, and erected fortifications of palisades. The British attacked them without delay; and, at first, were completely successful. But in February, they were repulsed with loss, in an attack upon the Burmese stockade at Doodpatlee.

The governor-general, lord Amherst, now deemed it necessary to make a formal declaration of war against the king of Ava, and to chastise the aggressors by invasions of their own territory. The operations of the war being carried on in several quarters, we shall confine the main narrative to the principal expedition, which was against Rangoon; shortly premising the incidents which occurred elsewhere.

Immediately on the commencement of the war, a considerable force, under general M'Morine, penetrated to Gowahati, the capital of Western Assam, and completely succeeded in repressing the Burmese in that quarter. The British were less fortunate in the district of Chittagong.

Their

forces were concentrated upon Ramoo, which the Burmese attacked in great numbers, and after carrying the intrenchments, dispersed or cut off all the garrison, posted for their defence. This event greatly encouraged the Burmese, although they did not advance any farther in that direction.

In the mean time, a considerable armament was assembled in May, at Port Cornwallis, consisting of naval forces under commodore Grant, and military, commanded by sir Archibald Campbell, destined for Rangoon, the principal sea port of Ava. They reached this place in a few days, and captured it without the loss of a single man. All its numerous inhabitants had fled precipitately to the jungles, at the news of the approach of the British; and not a hundred men were found in the town, when they took possession A large quantity of ordnance, and munitions of war, was captured in Rangoon; and the fall of the place was deemed highly important; but the Burmese continued to hover around the British outposts, and maintained a desultory and harassing contest, without affording opportunity for any decisive action.

Such was the state of things at Rangoon for upwards of a month. Numerous assaults were made by the British upon the Burmese

stockades; and almost invariably successful ones; but no sooner were the Burmese driven from one position, than they fortified another and thus the time_continued to be consumed in a succession of petty engagements, which it would be useless to describe particularly. One of them we narrate, as a little more decisive than the rest.

Towards the end of June, the Burmese chief received orders to make a general attack upon the British line; and his troops were observed to be in movement for two successive days. At length, a body of twelve thousand men attacked the British posts, and succeeded in penetrating between, two of the picquets; but were soon repulsed at the point of the bayonet, and driven into the jungle. About the same time, ten stockades were taken from them in a single day. These successes appear to have had the effect, of producing a general pause in the operations of the Burmese.

The remainder of the year was chiefly occupied by expeditions for the destruction of stockades, which led to no important result. Owing to the character of the country, covered with jungle, the setting in of rainy weather, and the difficulty of supplying the troops with sufficient provisions, general Campbell continued his head quarters at Rangoon through the season.

In October, an expedition was despatched against the town of Martaban, and the possessions of the Burmese on the Tenasserim coast. Here the British arms were completely victorious. Martaban, although strongly fortified, was taken by storm, with all its richly stored magazines, and the submission of the whole dependant territory immediately followed;--so that the provinces of Mergui, Yeh, Tavoy, Martaban, and, indeed, the whole coast, from Rangoon eastward, was now in the possession of the British. The islands of Cheduba, on the Arracan coast, and of Negrais, at the mouth of the river Ivawuddy, had already been captured by other detachments of general Campbell's troops.

During these operations, the Burmese had been assembling the whole force of the empire. A large army, said to consist of 50,000 men, attacked the British position, and entrenched themselves along general Campbell's whole front. They were, commanded by Maha Bundoola, who selected his posts, and fortified them, with a judgment, in point of position, which would have done credit to the engineers of the most civilized and warlike nations. his skill was unavailing, when opposed to the superior discipline and appointments of Europeans. He was assaulted by general

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Campbell, early in December, and driven from post to post, with great slaughter, and the loss of two hundred and forty pieces of ordnance and other munitions of war, in proportionate quantities. Bundoola rallied his troops, and erected new entrenchments; but was again routed, with the loss of his camp, baggage, and much of his ammunition.

Previous to this, general Campbell having understood, that the governor of Syriam was mustering a body of forces, marched upon that place, which the Burmese abandoned on the first assault.

Such were the operations of the main body of the British forces. On the Sylhet frontier, where lieutenant colonel Innes commanded, they were less successful. The Burmese had occupied a fortified position at Tiloayn, from whence the British endeavored, for some time, to dislodge them; and at last, they, in their turn, attacked the Indian forces of the district, under the rajah Gumbheer Singh ; and the British troops then coming up to assist their allies, were all repulsed, and driven back upon Budderpore.

In recurring to the commencement of the contest, and recounting its earlier incidents, although exceeding our limits, we have thought we should be performing an acceptable service, being thus

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