nd elsewhere,
he was liked rather than hated by the people, for his brutalities were
confined to either strangers or personal enemies, and he was open-handed
and generous. We look upon things now with different eyes to what we did
two or three hundred years ago, but I dare say Maung Yaing was neither
better nor worse than many a hero of ours long ago. He was a fairly good
fighter, and had a little experience fighting the king's troops; and so
it was very natural, when the machinery of government fell like a house
of cards, and some leaders were wanted, that the young men should crowd
to him, and put themselves under his orders. He had usually with him
forty or fifty men, but he could, as I have said, raise five or six
times as many for any particular service, and keep them together for a
few days. He very soon discovered that he and his men were absolutely no
match for our troops. In two or three attempts that he made to oppose
the troops he was signally worsted, so he was obliged to change his
tactics. He decided to boycott the enemy. No Burman was to accept
service under him, to give him information or supplies, to be his guide,
or to assist him in any way. This rule Maung Yaing made generally known,
and he announced his intention of enforcing it with rigour. He did so.
There was a head man of a village near Shemmaga whom he executed because
he had acted as guide to a body of troops, and he cut off all supplies
from the interior, lying on the roads, and stopping all men from
entering Shemmaga. He further issued a notice that the inhabitants of
Shemmaga itself should leave the town. They could not move the garrison,
therefore the people must move themselves. No assistance must be given
to the enemy. The villagers of Shemmaga, mostly small traders in salt
and rice, were naturally averse to leaving. This trade was their only
means of livelihood, the houses their only homes, and they did not like
the idea of going out into the unknown country behind. Moreover, the
exaction by Maung Yaing of money and supplies for his men fell most
heavily on the wealthier men, and on the whole they were not sorry to
have the English garrison in the town, so that they could trade in
peace. Some few left, but most did not, and though they collected
money, and sent it to Maung Yaing, they at the same time told the
English officer in command of Maung Yaing's threats, and begged that
great care should be taken of the town, for Maung Yaing was ve