wooden guns, and thirty-four jingals, either brought off or destroyed.
On the following morning, the Larne, Mercury, and Argyle transport, weighed and ran past four deserted stockades, three of which stood in commanding situations on the island of Negrais. Continuing their course with a fair wind, they anchored, at dark, about 35 miles above the entrance of the river. From this point, the stream being very narrow, and the wind bloM’ing strong down every reach, the ascent became extremely arduous; the ships often getting on shore, towing and warping day and night, till the evening of the 3d March, when they anchored about three miles below the still smoking ruins of Bassein.
During their passage thither, the British commanders received information, that the head person of Bassein had superintended the partial defence of the stockades at the entrance of the river; that upon his return after their capture, he found himself opposed by a strong party amicably inclined towards the British; and that a contest ensued, the result of which was the destruction of the town, and the flight of the chief with about 200 followers, to Lamina, nearly 140 miles distant. This intelligence proving correct, Major Sale landed his troops on the evening of the 3d, and took post in the area of the principal pagoda, a strongly fortified and commanding position. He subsequently made a reconnoisance as far as Lamina, with 300 troops and 70 seamen, proceeding up the river in boats, and bivouacking at night upon the banks. The fugitive chief was but a short distance a-head, and the detachment was repeatedly upon the eve of overtaking him; he contrived, however, to escape. All the villages on the banks of the river were deserted, and the population driven into the interior by the retreating Burman force. Lamina also, although a place of great extent, was found abandoned; and as no resources, therefore, were available for the support, or the further progress of the detachment. Major Sale returned to Bassein on the 23d, bringing with him a state barge and several war canoes. During the expedition, two men were wounded by musketry from the
