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 BASSEhV DISTRICT.

195

Captain Southey, their superintendent, landed on 5th October 1759 and on the 7th, when all the Europeans were assembled to meet the Burmese authorities, they were treacherously attacked and murdered, only one making his escape. In 1760, a mission was sent to obtain redress, but it was of no avail, and the Burmese King absolutely prohibited our

return to Negrais.

From

this date

ment took no District.

until

the

first

Burmese war, the

British

Govern-

forming a settlement in the During that war, Bassein town was captured and retained further

steps

towards

until the evacuation of Pegu, in

accordance with the terms of the

Yandabu. During the second Burmese war the town was again taken by our troops, and has remained in the possession of the British ever since. During the time of the annexation of Pegu, the whole of Bassein District was a prey to anarchy; the British troops were kept within the limits of the seaport towns and frontier stations, and in the interior numerous bandit chiefs set up independent authority, claiming to be officers of the Burmese King deputed to regain the country. A kind of civil war began in one instance animosity was carried so far against the English, that the villages on the banks of the Irawadi which had supplied our steamers with fuel were destroyed. The great object of the British at this crisis was to rid the country of these gangs, to afford protection to its inhabitants, and restore their confidence in British rule. In January 1853, Captain Fytche, the Deputy Commissioner, succeeded in dispersing a force which had kept the whole country in the south and south-east in a state of terror. He first attacked a gang on Negrais island, and afterwards followed it up northwards into the Shwelaung township, destroying its three chief stations. Later a rebel band, under Mangyi Maung Nywung, the former governor of Bassein, was utterly routed, and its leader slain. By the beginning of March 1853, the lower tracts were freed from the large marauding parties which had hitherto occupied them, and only straggling bands of robbers remained. In January 1854 fresh disturbances broke out. Two men named Shwe Tu and Kyaw Zan Hla, aided by a Buddhist priest, assembled a number of desperate characters from the borders of the District, and succeeded in seizing the large towns of Dounggyi, Ngathaing-Chaung, and Regyi'. The outbreak was speedily crushed by the rapid and decisive action of Major Fytche, who with a small military force of Europeans and 400 Native troops, aided by detachments under Major Baker and Lieutenant Shuldham, completely defeated the insurgents, whose leaders were either killed or captured. From this time there has been no serious endeavour to expel the British, and the District treaty of



has enjoyed comparative Population, etc

.

— By

rest.

the Census of 1872, but allowing for changes