which the te nw tf.irf. Mr. J a c b u 's dispatches docs -notsatisfactorily
establish. f;
An attempt w«is shortly after made by the Peguers to surprise the Birman
camp, and recover Dagon. Notwithstanding the land forces marched
by night, and the fleet advanced with celerity, increased by a rapid tide,
they were discovered in time for the Birmans to prepare for; their, reception.
.The boats first arriving, were repulsed by a heavy fire from the
banks, which were lined with Birman troops. The post; Of Dagon could
only be taken on the side of the land by a resolute assault./ The attack
of the Peguers was feeble and ineffectual; disheartened by the failure of
their fleet, and destitute of able leaders, they socua abandoned their enterprise.
j An irregular fire of musquetry continued until noon, when the
Peguers retreated to Syrians, little loss being sustained on either side; -
During this spiritless contest, the English maintained a perfect, neutra-
bty, not a shot was discharged from any of the ships; ajeircu-mstance-that
tended to create'suspicioa in the minds of the-Bifflaans: their distrust,
however, seems to have been luHed by assurances o f friendship, and probably
by the expectation of a supply of cannon and stores from Negrais,
which Mr. Brooke had announced his intention of sending, under- care
of Messrs. Baker and North; whom h e meant to depute to th e Birman
king. Alomprahad, a short time before, left Dagen to quell a disturbance
in the northern provinces, caused b y th e Quo is and Siamese; who, taking
advantage of his absence, had invaded his country, and excited an insurrection
of the inhabitants in favour of the fugitive son of the ancient
monarch. The sudden appearance of the victorious chief disconcerted
his enemies ; he soon reduced the disobedient, and obliged the Siamese to
retire within their own frontiers.
^BK C\feu^thhis> de^t^e ? fromD agoiiu Alompra laid the foundation-«#
the town now sd^wfelh known % the name, o f Jbajg^on, ere Dzangoonij
which signifies vfetpryS,:a|QljieVed-i'i‘ Hsrei stood; in..former days, a large!
and populous city,' called inrthet Pali, or sacred bngitage,.Singouu-terra;
t’he-’site of.which Alampra diligently explored, and raised on its ruins the.
present flourishing sea-port! c^fre: ifegue-i dominions.. cDagofr-, often ,ca®ed
Shoe.Dagon, or the g o ld e n ,D a g o n ,n am e peculiar bo,the temple; a
noble edifice, three miles distant-from the,ba)?ks,r,#^i;Ji^gfer6^^ , When
Alompra- fefr ’fcisi camp-, he appdhfEdJVleinla-MeingCBjrit.t^ifdiifeh^tid in;
his absence;’ am(dfieeEmfra^ravEdcrepj^tfejipnd-wafofrr. /
The-clandestine,.itegatiadmssi between the Efe-p-IMji . cr i LoUi appe a r
to Inn »been renewed alter this action; several riitssages* passed-, li^fiftil-y
a fresh attack on the Birmans was concerted, -%id the, aid of, the\G^n>
panys ships promised to, the Peguers, -who were thus to- hqvbejfc|pi$ed -by
the whole European force, .both French and English; j .Goafolhig in;,their
new: alKfa* and assured of victory, Y^r-hQats.qf;thfttP(^ ^ r ^ j 'd ^ j a g
the night, dropped down the Pegue ri-ver^'aiid with die; f
moored in the stream of the Irrawaddy,* waiting tbfi,retuni.ek-udeltocaji.M
them to Rangoon. Dawn, of day discovered them, fe^e-BiKEn»^%v^We
general immediately sent fin? ffee-English.geijtleinen,. vto| ,Q©r^4ftfo»;>'llte.vbe^t
means efetfefence. At this interview,, die Bjpihffir1 candidly aqqu^ipte'd
Mr.WhdteMB how ill! satisfied they were; mthj.the-cd^iufit o f itii^ n g lis h
Commanders during, the k fe action, aand dcsitednai ppwise. 'ofeinprei%criy,q
assistance op the presem decassion: Mn..WW)t^ijd'-4^>licd^,^ha^ .without
the Gotepansy^^^E^vhie: not authorized to comwencq hors|j|jh^&Mi
* The name of the great raver ofjjta. ’ cal’fetf the Rangoon 'river, to
distinguish it from that which leads to Bassien.