retreat and abandon the enterprize. The place was defended by Maha-
see-soo-ra, who in the month of April, 1788, was -prompted to the May-
woonshipjsfbf Viceroyalty'of Martaban, which comprehends within its
jurisdiction, Tavoy, Mergui, and all the Birrhap possessions-to the southward.
Tavoy being a place of great importance, was left with a strong
garrison, to- the care of an officer named . Numeapeou, by some called,
Miapeou, a man of low extraction, whose father had originally been a
merchant of small -ware between China and Ava, and haying amassed
money, obtained influence by a judicious application of his wealth. Tot;
some time Miapeou conducted himself with fidelity in his command ; b u t
on the decease of Maha-see-soo-ra, in the year-1790, being disappointed
of the Viceroyalty of Martaban, which was given to an- officer»named
Meen-Ia-ze-zo, he entered into an intrigue, with the Siamese, and agreed
to deliver up the fort to them, on certain stipulations for himself and his
adherents; the compact being concluded, possession was given to the
enemy, who stationed a strong garrison in it, and as a further protection,
encamped a body of troops in-its neighbourhood. B
Early in the year 1791, Sombee Meengee and Attawoon Mien, officers
of high distinction, were ordered to proceed from Ummerapoora by land
against the rebel; a fleet of sixty boats sailed about the same time from
Rangoon, which were speedily to be followed by three ships, then fitting
-out at the same port. The boats having arrived before the ships could
reach their destination, injudiciously entered the river of Tavoy, and began
an attack on the suburbs bordering on the banks. Miapeou, with a party
of rebel Birmans and a detachment of Siamese, opposed them, and in-
light war-boats soon got the better of the unwieldy junks that had crossed
the bay. Many of the Birman vessels were destroyed, and those that
escaped took-refege ffi-M er.g u i,^w h e^ ^ i|5;iafter this 'disaster, the ship*
also arrived.’ :
The. ar-my from, ymmerapoor'a hay® gp reached Martaban,; j^ltsd/thefe
during the rainy megohm, ^Earlyrincthe- feason<j^a^-i^r«i'hv|;
orRrihee. reyalv left, the capital and camedwn->tsi.Rang<»^bTingin^-with
him a Gonsiderable.accessicm ta.the^wuthem'foree; the<Assay WeOjigeel
and several officers of distinguished rank, a,tt§nd®'c| inffiis 3sufr&.i)i!' By 'the
time he had reached Rangoon, tfie.first idjvjsion, under iSof^fee, Meehg&f,,
and Attawoon Mein, had proceeded -dgdinSt Tavoy;' ./the- /halted
at Rangoon, Inn,serif forward tin «giiiiust pan oMiiv«ifoo]>\ tt^supyu« t
the advanced army: the ships, also that had^u<^natd^Tefgud\igc>(:ii.sail,(.(I
tor On the airival of tlie army dtod dlpfrfng<Jguifeilr
plate between (be -Sianievc and Bimnftv partly on Imd arid p
mouth-of the river, the Siamese disputing- the, eUS’^HGe'm iIk.ii ^vbfyTUf
in this homiest the Siamese wue jvpisftd aijd^lmen w uliSgSattsdhtfkiiUt
info the fort, width the Birmans immediately .invested :• and has ing .Lnr
treuehed and stockaded' tfeeffiselyeriAammenced <a <formak'Mooted®, i' - No
supplies could now reach the besieged', whilst the Birmdn'sii.'thoh^S^thJe
adjacent country was unproductive, being, masters of the sea, jprooiSrid
-subsistence from Arracan and Rangoonr which the--provincial'
•ffi^SfOuntries traUsported' f O ' i n - w h a t e v e r ships.
t e f r hands on,; pressfeg mdiscriwinately the vessels* of all naj$ilB$4hat
* Amongst thesi were several ships belonging to English traders, tl commanders of which '
forwarded a remonstrance to Lord Cornwallis, .ind the ^upran^C&mjpl?
outrage. It is generally supposed, that the Birman King ordered' yInrh.-rhmhih; r atiobjtcj he
made to those whose ships were pressed, but that the provincial officers fraudulently with-
held Ki®-bounty.