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Naval history of Great Britain
by
William James
 


1826     THE BURMESE WAR     457

to face this formidable warrior. On the 9th of February the king of hell was defeated and Pagahm-mew taken, the British loss amounted to two men killed, and fifteen wounded. The enemy were dispersed in all directions, and now sued for peace in all sincerity, imploring Sir Archibald not to approach nearer the capital. After considerable difference as to the amount of money to be deposited as an indemnity, it was finally agreed that 25 lacs in money should be paid, and this sum was brought to Yandaboo, a place only 45 miles from the capital, by the missionary above mentioned, and paid over.

The definitive arrangement was left to the commissioners already named by Sir Archibald Campbell, and Captain Chads was requested to lend his talent towards the completion of the treaty. On the 24th of February the peace was signed, the principal conditions being as follows : * " To abstain from all future interference with the principality of Assam, and its dependencies, and also with the contiguous petty states of Cachar and Jynteea; to recognise Ghumbeer Singh as Rajah of Munnipoore (should he desire to return to that country) ; to cede in perpetuity the provinces of Arracan, recently conquered by the British, including the four divisions of Arracan, Ramree, † Cheduba, and Sandoway, as divided from Ava by the Unnoupectowmien mountains, and also the provinces of Yeh, Tavoy, Mergui, and Tenasserim, with the islands and dependencies thereunto appertaining (taking the Saluśn, or Martaban river, as the line of demarcation on that frontier) ; to receive a British resident at Ava, and to depute a Burman minister to reside at Calcutta ; to abolish all exactions upon British ships or vessels in Burman ports, that are not required from Burman ships or vessels in British ports ; and to enter into a commercial treaty upon principles of reciprocal advantage ; the King of Ava, " in proof of the sincere disposition of the Burman government to maintain the relations of peace and amity between the nations, and as part indemnification to the British government for the expenses of the war ," agreed to pay the sum of one crore of rupees, equal to about 1,000,0001. sterling (valuing the rupee at two shillings, the then rate of exchange), of which contribution the first instalment, amounting to 2,508,199 sicca rupees, was embarked at Yandaboo, brought down the Irrawaddi (a distance of 600 miles), and ultimately conveyed by Captain Chads to Calcutta, where it was landed from the Alligator, April 10th 1826."

Thus ended the Burman war. On the 8th of March the

* Marshall.

† The harbour of Kheauk-pheo, at the north end of the island of Ramree is described as sufficiently large to accommodate the whole navy of Great Britain. The anchorage is from 8 to 15 fathoms throughout ; and being landlocked on three sides, the west, east, and south, the harbour is completely, secured against the S. W. monsoon.

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