ps were thrown on
shore, and though the Burmese stood their ground for a short time, they
quickly turned tail, and we entered the city in triumph, without a
single man killed, and only four wounded. As we left Pegu without any
defenders, though the inhabitants had taken a strong liking to us, while
we were away a pretty large Burmese army marched into the place and
began fortifying it. We had therefore to attack it again. Perhaps our
chiefs thought that there wouldn't otherwise be work enough, and so left
the cities we took unguarded.

"We proceeded up the river, and during the night came off the place. At
daybreak, during a thick fog, with as little noise as possible, a body
of troops and another of bluejackets were landed, and we making a dash
on the town, the Burmese, who had no notion we were at hand, were
completely taken by surprise, and away they scampered as hard as their
legs could carry them, as usual to the pagoda, just as rats do to their
holes; whether from being a sort of sacred place they fancied that it
was safer than any other spot, I don't know; at all events, it was more
easily defended. We, however, did not allow them to hold it long,
though they fought desperately. Our troops, making a rush, dashed into
the place and drove them out, not, however, without some considerable
loss, half a dozen of our men being killed, and more than thirty
wounded.

"We had now got hold of all their chief cities except Ava, and why that
was not taken is more than I can say. We might certainly have captured
it, with the king, his white elephant, and all his lords and ladies
together, not to speak of his treasure, which would have given us
something handsome in the way of prize-money. Perhaps it was thought
best not to drive him to desperation, as we had already punished him, or
rather, his unfortunate subjects, pretty severely.

"We had still no end of expeditions on shore; one especially turned out
most disastrously. The Government of Burmah, fancying that we had now
become pretty quiet, and that they could drive us into the sea, allowed
a number of guerilla bands to be organised, which scoured the country in
all directions, and mercilessly robbed the unfortunate people. Among
the most noted of the leaders was a fellow called Mya Toon. After
burning down a number of villages, and committing all sorts of mischief,
he threw himself into a stronghold about twenty-five miles inland from
Rangoon, or rather from