A r a c a n . delineates a fmall part, or from the capital, Aracan, to the fea.
From Aracan, as high as Lat. 26°, with the exception o f a fmall
portion between Malaac and Munnypour, where it is traverfed
by the great communication from Ava to the northern parts of
Bengal, it is "marked with a dotted line ; from that point the
river is diftinguifhed by a certain courfe, which is continued
northward, in the kingdom o f Thibet, as high as Lat. 30° 10'.
All the great tradì: it pafles through is level, which makes it
liable to annual inundations, from the fame caufes as affeit the
Bengal and other of the Indian plains. The tides which run up
this river are very high ; they come in with a great bore, and
rife from fifteen to twenty feet, according to the influence o f
the moon,.
T h e r e is fix fathom water, according to Mr. Ovington's account,
at the entrance of the river, and twemty farther up, fo
that it forms a noble harbour. From the mouth to the capital is
about fifty miles ; moft o f the way delicioufly bounded by woods
or plantations, animated by the gambols o f the monkey tribe, or
the gay flights of numbers of peacocks. The city o f Aracan is
jfeated moft Angularly, in a valley furrounded with vaft and
craggy mountains. Thefe are affifted by art, fo as to prove the
moft fubftantial fortifications. The entrances are cut through
the folid rock, as are the gates of the city. The precipitous face
of the mountains ferves for walls ; befides thefe, it has a citadel,
and other artificial defences. The city is faid to be fifteen miles-
in circumference, and to contain a hundred and fixty thoufand
inhabitants. The regal palace is very magnificent, and highly
adorned and enriched with works o f maffive gold.
In
In my* account o f Cbittigong, in the preceding volume, I have
related the fliare this kingdom took in the affairs o f Hindoojlan,
by reafon o f the fupport it gave the Portuguefe pirates. I fhall now
take notice of a very remarkable event which befel Aracan, the
refult o f the misfortunes o f Sultan Sujah, the fecond fon o f the
emperor Sbab Jeban, and the unfortunate brother o f that fue-
cefsful hypocrite Aurengzebe. After Sujah had long made head
againft the ufurper, he was at length obliged to retire from his
faftnefs near Mongbier to Dacca, and from thence to the kingdom
o f Aracan. He had previoufly fent his fon to the king
o f the country, to implore his proteition. This was immediately
promifed, and the unhappy prince embarked with his
whole family on board the veffels of the Portuguefe pirates, fettled
in the mouths o f the Ganges, intending to profit o f the
favor o f the infidel monarch, till he could procure a ihip to
convey him to the holy city of Mecca. From thence he intended
to go to the courts o f Turky or Perjia, in hopes o f an
afylum in one or other o f the dominions o f thofe mighty potentates.
Sujah is faid foon to have difcovered the perfidy o f his
royal hoft, who had entered into a treaty with the General of
Aurengzebe, to deliver into his hands, for a fum o f money, the
fugitive fultan. This came to the ears o f that prince, who raihly
determined on revenge. He entered into a confpiracy againft
the Aracan monarch, gained over a certain number o f Mahometans
refident in the country, and with thofe, and the few who
were left of his train, refolved to force his way into the palace,
to kill the king, and caufe himfelf to be proclamed fovereign.
♦Outlines of the'Globe, voh iii p. 372.
B % All
O f S u l t a n
S u j a h .