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24
BIRMAH.
violence, arising out of mutual irritation. The vice-
roy, being called to the metropolis by urgent business,
and underrating the character of his adversary, contented
himself with ordering the reduction of Mon-
chaboo, and the imprisonment of Alom-praw until his
return. A small force was accordingly despatched to
bring him in bonds to Ava; but, on approaching
Monchaboo, to their astonishment they found it
strongly stockaded, and were received with threats
of defiance. Alom-praw was not a person to suffer
them to recover from their surprise. At day-break,
he sallied forth at the head of his little band, and so
furiously assaulted the Peguans, who did not exceed
a thousand, as utterly to rout them, and he pursued
them for two miles. After this exploit, he invited all
the neighbouring places to join his standard, and
many obeyed the summons, while others thought
the enterprise as yet too hazardous. When news of
this disaster reached Ava, Dotachew, the nephew of
Apporaza, who governed in his absence, timidly
hesitated whether to march at the head of his troops,
to await a reinforcement, or to retreat to Prome;
and while he lingered, Alom-praw, who, through the
affections of his countrymen, had faithful intelligence
of all that passed, boldly resolved to advance, before
he could strengthen himself by the numerous Pegu
forces scattered throughout the country. The report
of his approach was sufficient to embolden the Birmans
to rise on their oppressors. Dotachew fled;
all the Peguans who remained behind were slain;
and Alom-praw, spared the necessity of advancing in
person, sent his second son, Shembuan, to take possession
of the capital.
At this time, both the English and the French had
re-established their factories at Syrian), and had, of