Page:Journal Of The Indian Archipelago And Eastern Asia Series.i, Vol.3 (IA in.ernet.dli.2015.107696).pdf/21

 The fleet had scarcely arrived when Girdá again appeared, sending a tempest before him of rain, thunder and lightning. The two vessels of the Prince and Ambassador were anchored close together, and the other ships were stationed around them, and kept ready with their arms. Márong Máháwángsá, having seized his bow with the arrow named Brátpúrá, with its point flaming with fire, and, having stood out on the gunwale, of shot the arrow towards the sky. It sped with a loud noise, and in its descent dispelled the tempest. But notwithstanding the innumerable flights of arrows, and the constant firing and shouting of the sailors, Girdá contrived to carry off three more vessels - for he was invulnerable to all these missiles. So, after a short respite, he returned to his work of destruction as before.

Again Márong Máháwángsá sent the arrow Brátpúrá at him, which he avoided, and it thus fell into the sea. Whereupon Girdá snatched away three more ships in his beak and talons, and soared aloft with them. Thus six vessels were lost with all their crews. On the ensuing day, as Girdá did not appear, the remnant of the fleet set sail in its now dismantled condition, having had twelve ships with all their crews destroyed. The flee soon after got to the port of ''Mrit. (f)''

[footnote]

in its Transactions (2). it was a place in the days our Author alludes to, of much more importance to those navigating the eastern seas than it now is, when even the native vessels from Arab ports and from India strike across the ocean, guided by the compass. Besides it may be noticed that the population of the regions to the Eastward of India professed either Budhism of the doctrines of one or the other of the two great sects of Hindus which divided India, and consequently that the navigators of the periods antecedent to the spread of Islamism there, probably found always a welcome at such places, as they touched at. Budhism it is well known, prevails at this day in Pegu, and all along the Coast of Tenasserim, while Hinduism has always been tolerated, and never persecuted by the Buddhists of these regions. The natives of Tavoy say that about two thousand years ago, colonies arrived from Martaban and from the Eastward, and that long after this event people reached it from Arracan in search of iron, a rather curious but not probably reason, and settled at Daungwe or Thaungwe, about five miles up the Tavoy river, and on the west bank. This party called the country Dahweh "knife, buy." They brought along with them the Buddhist religion.

When the present town of Tavoy was built, the people could not I think have been under much apprehension from the Siamese. If they had been so, they would have erected the Fort on the west side of the bank, where the ground is higher.

(2) 1834 to 1840 Art. XIV (f) This was the name then, and in fact is the native name now, given to the British possession of Mergui. It doubtless appertained at the time of their voyage to Siam - for it was under the latter, in A.D. 1053 as I find in the Bot Phrà Ayaúkun, a Siamese work - of Digest of Siamese Law, which I pro-