Donabue was in the possession of
Sir A. Campbell: it was therefore judged proper to appear to proceed to
extremities; and this time it was done with more form. A file of
marines was marched aft with their muskets, and the sergeant appeared
with his drawn sword. Sand was strewed on the deck in front of the
marines; and he was led there and ordered to kneel down, so that his
head, if cut off, would fall where the sand was strewn. He was again
asked if he would tell where the guns were concealed, and again stated
that they were at Donabue; upon which he was desired to prepare for
death. He called one of his attendants and gave him his silver
betel-box, saying, "Take this to my wife,--when she sees it she will
know all." I watched him very closely; his countenance was composed,
but, as he bent forward over the sand, the muscles of his arms and
shoulders quivered. However, as it is not the custom to cut off
people's heads on the quarter-deck of his Majesty's ships, we very
magnanimously reprieved him, and he was afterwards sent a prisoner to
Calcutta. But that he had the guns, we discovered afterwards, which
adds to his merit.

Having succeeded in this attempt, we made sail for the stockade of the
other chief, and arrived there that evening. As he was supposed to be
greater in force than the other, we decided upon an attack in the dark,
when he would not be able to distinguish of what our force was composed;
and this time we gave muskets to our Burmah comrades. The attack was
successful, we obtained possession, and the chief fled, but our Burmahs
pursued him nearly two miles, made him prisoner, and brought him aboard.
As he immediately tendered his submission, which the other would not
do, he was released the next day.

We had done all our work, and having employed the Burmahs for a few days
more in destroying the stockades at the entrance of the river, they were
paid and discharged from his Majesty's service. They would not,
however, quit us; but, so long as we remained in the river they
continued to hang on to the ship, and discovered three guns which had
been sunk, which they weighed and brought on board.

I have entered into this short narrative, as it will give some idea of
the character of these people. The government is despotic, cruel, and
treacherous, but the people are neither cruel nor treacherous: on the
contrary, I think they would make most excellent and faithful soldiers;
and it is singular to