A Burmese wonderland; a tale of travel in Lower and ... - Khamkoo

A BURMESE WONDERLAND. 107
and Pinya near Kyaukse. Anawratta had built
extensive canals at Kyaukse wherewith to provide
grain for the then large population of Pagan. It is
curious to note that after the fall of Pagan all future
capitals were grouped close to the irrigated areas of
Kyaukse—at Mekaya, IVIinzaing, Pinya, Sagaing, Ava,
Amarapura and Mandalay.
railway station of
Mekaya is 5 miles from the
Singaing—a pleasant place for weekend
picnics. Its ruined pagodas survive, but are of
little note, and are much overgrown with brambles.
The Myitnge River flows placidly by, and Ava can be
reached by boat, in a few hours.
The Shan Brothers had helped the Tartars to
destroy Pagan.
A few years later they forced Kyawzwa
to enter a monastery at Minzaing. The unfortunate
King appealed to the Chinese, who sent the army of
1300 A.D., to his relief. The Shan Brothers, however,
beheaded Kyawzwa, and bribed the Tartars to retire.
The latter were probably not sorry to find the quarrel
summarily composed. As a proof of their good-will
they laid aside their arms and helped build the Chanthaya
Pagoda, which can still
be seen at Minzaing, about
6 miles from Kyaukse. So ended the House of Anawratta.
The Pagan dynasty was gone.
The Shan Brothers and their descendants fought
and assassinated each other till one, Atthenkaya,
excelled, and founded the first capital at Sagaing in
1322. A later prince founded the first capital at Ava
in 1364. Its further history will be related hereafter.