Page:Lord Amherst and the British Advance Eastwards to Burma.djvu/80

 ready to die; if you drive us away, we will go and dwell in the jungles of the great mountains.' On the other, was the case of the king, 'If you keep in your country my slaves, the broad path of intercourse between the states will be blocked up.'

In the year 1811 the question had become a burning one, and for a time the rights and wrongs of the 'Mugs' was a topic of interest to sentimental politicians even in England. This cacophonous name was given indiscriminately to all the Arakanese, though in strictness it applies only to one section of the population, said to be descended from Bengali mothers and Arakanese fathers. Amongst the suffering race appeared in 1811 one who for a time seemed destined to be the saviour of his country. Khyenbyan, whom the Anglo-Indians persisted in calling King-bering, was the son of the district officer who had betrayed Arakan to the Burmese. So unpopular was he on this account amongst his countrymen that their hatred followed the son to his exile in Chittaogong. But he was soon to free himself from obloquy. Half brigand, half patriot, he collected a host with which he invaded Arakan, captured the chief town, and behaved with the usual licence of a Burmese victor. Again the Governor of Arakan held the English responsible, and again Calcutta statesmanship professed its innocence. This time Captain Canning, who had twice before visited Rangoon on diplomatic business, was despatched to Amarápura, to smooth away the displeasure of the