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BIRMAH. 29
The eldest son of Alom-praw succeeded to the vacant
throne, but not without a recurrence of those scenes of
sanguinary civil contest which are continually exhibited
in countries scourged by eastern despotism. Namdojee-praw
found a rival in his younger brother Shembuan,
who, being with the army at the decease of his
father, not only endeavoured to gain their support,
but went so far as to issue a proclamation declaratory
of his having been nominated heir to the crown by
the deceased monarch. Finding himself, however,
unable to maintain his claims, he sued for a reconcilia-
tion, which his brother had the magnanimity to grant.
He had to encounter a more dangerous competitor in
Meinla Rajah, a general high in favour with the late
king, who not only seized Tonghoo, the strongest fortress
in the Ava country, but succeeded in possessing
himself of Old Ava, the ancient capital. His promptitude
and rapidity had nearly gained the crown, and
made him master of the person and fortunes of Namdojee-praw,
who remained at Monchaboo, the favourite
residence and capital of Alom-praw, engaged in raising
fresh levies to oppose the rebels, but whose chief reli-
ance rested upon the junction of his raw soldiers with
the veteran army led by his father against Siam. The
season befriended him, for the volume of waters poured
down from the Tibetian mountains on the melting of
the snows, so increases the rapidity and force of the
stream, that, in the months of June, July, and
August, the navigation of the Irrawaddy would be
impracticable, were it not counteracted by the strength
of the north-west monsoon. Assisted by this wind,
and cautiously keeping within the eddies of the banks,
the Birman boats use their sails, and make a more
expeditious passage at this season than at any other
time of the year.
The distance of the present capital
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