and a half, we descended the hill, and returned to the place we started from in the Sumeng, having had a very hard day's work. None of our men were wounded save in the feet, by the sharp bamboo spikes with which the hill-side was studded in grassy spots where they could be concealed.

6. From the Sumeng we returned by a different route to that we had travelled in our advance, through a difficult mountainous country, never before travelled by an European. The fact of a military detachment having marched by these paths will, I am convinced, have a great moral effect on the whole of the surrounding tribes. For a detail of each day's march I beg to refer you to a copy of a private Journal I kept, which is herewith annexed. We arrived in Akyab on the 30th ultimo.

7. In conclusion, I beg to state that although none of the people of this clan have been captured, yet I feel assured that the fact of a military detachment having reached and taken possession of the village of a people so feared by the adjoining tribes as the Wullengs were, will have a great effect on the Koomees generally. It will give confidence to those subject to our rule, and I have hopes that it will be the means of deterring other tribes beyond our frontier from attacking those within it.

From Lieutenant Phayre, Senior Assistant Commissioner, Akyab, to Major MacGrath, Commanding Arakan Light Infantry, dated Akyab, 3rd January, 1842.

Having applied to you for a party of the Arakan Light Infantry, to proceed against a Clan of Koomees, termed Wallengs, who had made some attacks on tribes residing within the British frontier, and the party having returned to cantonments, I beg herewith to express through you my thanks to Lieutenant Fytche, commanding the detachment sent on service, for the efficient assistance he gave me in every way, to secure the objects I had in view.

2. The very strong position occupied by the Walleng Clan having been reached after a toilsome march through a moun

tainous country, I feel assured that the Wallengs have received a check which will give confidence and security to the neighbouring clans. I cannot conclude this letter without expressing my admiration of the spirited style in which the men of the detachment scaled the steep and almost inaccessible rock upon which the village of attack was situated, and which, even if undefended, would have proved a serious obstacle to any advancing party.

3. Lieutenant Fytche having returned by difficult mountain paths which no European had hitherto traversed, will have the effect of showing many of these tribes that they are much more within our power than they had hitherto supposed, and my intercourse with them will be much facilitated thereby.

APPENDIX B.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

CONNECTED WITH

SERVICES IN THE BASSEIN DISTRICT.

From Major Phayre, Commissioner and Governor-General's Agent in Pegu, to C. Allen, Esquire, Secretary to the Government of India, dated Rangoon, 10th March, 1853.

I BEG to submit for the information of the Most Noble the Governor-General of India in Council, copies of the accompanying Reports from Lieut. Fytche, Deputy Commissioner of Bassein, reporting an expedition in company with Captain Rennie, I.N., and the boats of the steam frigate Zenobia, also of H.M.'s steamer Nemesis, against the late Burmese Governor of the Bassein district.

2. The operations have been gallantly and successfully conducted. The force of the late Governor was mainly composed of up-country Burmese soldiers, numbering more than three thousand men; these were, from the excellent arrangements of Lieut. Fytche, cordially and ably supported by Captain Rennie, met and routed by a very inferior force. I beg respectfully to bring the affair prominently to the notice of the Most Noble the GovernorGeneral of India in Council, as it appears to me exceedingly creditable to the above-mentioned officers, and all concerned therein. I now have strong hopes that the Bassein district will ere long be quieted.

From Lieutenant A. Fytche, Deputy Commissioner, Bassein, to Capt. A. P. Phayre, Commissioner and Governor-General's Agent in Pegu, Rangoon, No. 13, dated Bassein, 14th January, 1853. Having received information that a Burmese chief of marauders named Nga-tee-lwot was ravaging the country to the S.E. of this city, I proceeded on the morning of the 5th instant, in H.M.'s steamer Nemesis, to attack and disperse his band.

2. On our passage down the river we were informed by some villagers near Na-poo-tau that a large detachment from this band had passed a few hours before us to attack the village of Hounggyee-kywon. We immediately proceeded on to that island, and were in time to save the village; but the marauders escaped through a small creek, where our boats after a fruitless pursuit were obliged to return on account of the shallowness of the water. On the following morning we proceeded up the Pamawadie Creek in progress to Woing-ka-na, stated to be Nga-tee-lwot's head-quarters, and anchored in the evening off Myoung-mya-myo, which was as far as the steamer could advance in that direction.

3. At daybreak next morning I left the steamer with two paddle-box boats and a cutter, each boat mounting a 3-pounder gun and manned by Europeans, accompanied also by a considerable force of Karens in their own boats, and about midday came upon a large detachment of the marauders at Tsago-mya village, who fired upon our boats, but were dispersed after a few discharges of grape, leaving several muskets and a number of spears and other arms behind them in their flight. After taking possession of these and destroying a quantity of their boats and stores of rice, &c., we proceeded on our journey, and anchored that evening at Pegon, which place we left at 2 a.m. on the following morning, and about 8 a.m. came upon the outpost guard of the marauders at Kya-gyan, who commenced a sharp fire of musketry upon us from behind a breastwork that they had erected; but our boats, dashing forward and opening their fire, soon silenced that of the marauders, and drove them from behind their works. Three large war boats, and the standard of the officer commanding the

detachment, were captured here. After a short halt we then pro ceeded on to Woing-ka-na, which consisted of three large villages, one of which was strengthened in the same way as their outpost with strong breastworks. The marauders, however, would not await our arrival, but fled, some to the jungle and others in their boats; the latter we pursued, but could not come up with. The Karens in their boats might have overtaken them, but they hold these marauders in the greatest dread, and I failed in my endeavours to urge them in their pursuit. The marauders were completely surprised, and in their flight left almost everything behind them, which, together with their houses, stores of rice, &c., I ordered to be destroyed. We remained at Woing-ka-na that evening, and left next morning for the steamer which we reached on the evening of the following day, and next morning, the 12th instant, returned to Bassein, off which we anchored the same evening.

4. Myoung-mya-myo has been a very large place, and consisted, I should imagine from the ruins, of upwards of 1,500 houses, but the whole place has been completely destroyed by Nga-tee-lwot. It is situated in a fine country, with very extensive plains all around it, admirably adapted for the growth of rice. All the villages on our route had been destroyed in the same manner, and not a single house was left standing except in the villages where the dacoits had taken up their quarters. None of the plains, with the exception of small patches about Woing-ka-na, I appointed a appeared to have been cultivated this last season. head man at Woing-ka-na,one at Kya-gyan, and another at Myoungmya-myo, with directions to call the people in from the jungle and settle them down on the old sites of their villages. They each had one or two hundred followers with them, and spoke confidently of success now that the robber bands had been dispersed ; but I much doubt whether they will be able to hold their ground, unless detachments of police are stationed at different commanding points to overawe these robber bands and give confidence to the people.

5. During the expedition I received the greatest attention from Captain Goodwin, commanding H.M.'s steamer Nemesis, who