BIRMAN EMPIRE.
new empire is one of the most powerful'states in Asia, and includes the ancient kingdoms. of Ava, Ptgu, and.Arracan, with some other countries of infe dor note. It is difficult to ascertain with precision the limits of this empire ;. but, according to the most ac curate accounts, it appears to extend from 92' to 102° cast longitude, and between 9° and 26° north latitude, and is about 1200 miles in length, and 700 in breadth. On the north it is bounded by Assam, Tibet, and China ;. on the west it is separated from the British dominions in India by a range of moon. tains, the small river Naaf, and the bay of Bengal; the southern and eastern boundaries have not yet been accurately ascertained.
The kingdom of Ava, the original seat of the Birman government, was formerly subject to the king of Pegu; but about the middle of the I6th century, the Birmans.exciteda. revolution in the latter. kingdom, and they maintained their supremacy over it. until about 1740, when several of the provinces revolted, and kindled the flames of a civil war, which was prose-. cuted on both sides. with savage ferocity. Success was long doubtful ; but at length the Peguers obtain ed several victories over the Birmans, and they 'pur sued these advantages with so much vigour, that in 1752 they invested Ava, the capital. Disheartened by repeated defeats, the Birmans, alter a short siege, surrendered at. discretion ; and the sovereign, the last of a long line of native princes, was made prisoner with all his family, except two of his sons, who ef fected their escape to Siam, where they met with a friendly reception, and were flattered with assurances.
of security and succour. Having thus completed the conquest of Ava, the king of Pegu returned to his own country, leaving his brother to govern the capi tal of the royal captive, whom he carried with him, and afterwards cruelly murdered. At first, matters had the appearance of tranquillity and submission ; the principal inhabitants acknowledged the authority of the conqueror, and took an oath of allegiance to him. Among the rest, Alompra, the chief of a small village, but a man who possessed a spirit of enterprise and boldness equal to the most arduous undertakings, at first dissembled his views, though at the same time, be harboured the hope of emancipating his country, and meditated the best means of accomplishing his purpose. Having in the neighbourhood about 100 devoted followers, on whose courage and fidelity he could safely rely, he ventured with this handful to attack the troops of the conqueror, and being after wards further supported by his countrymen, he in 1753 regained possession of Ava, the capital. A
bloody and cruel contest ensued ; and though Alom pra laboured under great disadvantages, and met with various disasters, yet victory usually crowned his ex ertions : He at length drove the enemy from the king dom of Ava, and in 1757 he even invested Pegu, the capital of the conqueror. After some time, the city was taken and given up to indiscriminate plunder : the king himself was made prisoner, and after being kept in captivity for about 20 years, was cruelly put to death by one of Alompra's successors. Having thus conquered the kingdom of Pegu, and annexed it to the Birman monarchy, Alompra proceeded to bring under his subjection, the countries to the east ward, including the fertile districts betweerf Pegu and the three Pagodas : he also reduced Javoy under his dominion, and afterwards probeeded to chasten the Siamese for the support and encouragement which they had afforded his enemies. After various achieve ments, the victor advanced towards the capital of the kingdom ; but two days after the commencement of the siege;.he was taken ill of a disease which he fore saw would prove mortal, and he therefore gave orders for an immediate retreat ; but before he reached the seat of his empire, he died, May 15, 1760, in the 50th year of his age, regretted by his people, who at once venerated him as their monarch and deliverer. Alom pra, whether viewed in the light of a soldier or a po litician, is undoubtedly entitled to high respect. The wisdom of his counsels secured what his victories ac -spired ; he was not more eager for conquest than at tentive to the improvement of his territories, and the prosperity of his subjects ; he issued a severe edict against gambling, and prohibited the use of spiritous liquors throughout his empire : he reformed the courts of justice, abridging the power of the magistrate, and prohibiting them to decide at their private houses on criminal causes, or with regard to property, when the amount exceeded a certain sum : and every process of uimportance was to be decided in public, and every decree registered. The reign of Alompra though short, was vigorous ; and if his life had been prolonged, he would prohably have proved the benefactor of his country in a still higher degree.