The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-05-15 00:00:00

BUR MA H.

MINDALAY, May 9.
No serious incendiary fire has occurred since the
30th of April, but several attempts have been made
to kindle such fires. The people are excited, as notices
are posted in the Bazaar announcing the early destruc-
tion of the city by fire. The country continues in
very disturbed state, and numerous arrests have been
made. The present system of surrounding a village
and arresting all the men found in it, while it crowds
the prisons, does not tend to pacify the country. On
the 7th inst. I had an interview at the Eastern
Monastery with the Thatanabaing, or Buddhist Arch'
bishop. He referred to the condition of the country,
and especially to the system of wholesale arrests. The
archbishop, who is a man of much learning and
of liberal ideas, has sent his three nephews to
the school of the Society for the Propogation of
the Gospel, opened here by the Rev. Mr. Colbeck.
I asked the archbishop to tell me freely what he
thought of the present state of the country.
The Thathanabaing seemed pleased at being asked his
opinion, and despite repeated muttered cautions frora
his immediate subordinate, the prior of the monastery,
he spoke as follows in presence of a number of monks:
This is now British territory. We know it well—the
fact we cannot deny. The English have taken the city
and the country by force of arms. It was very easy
for them to do so. They captured all, without anY
difficulty, at their first advance. But since then dif-
ficulties have arisen on every side. Although the
British have possession of the city and country, they
are not ruling. They have not conquered the country
and people. I have no fault to find with the British
autkrities in the matter Of religion. They do not
oprtss us, but allow us to follow our own customs
without hindrance. There is one thing I wish parti-
cularly to bring to your notice—that is, the treatment
of Burmese villagers by the British troops. It is im-
possible for the Government to keep rulers in the small
villages, and the dacoits, of course, cannot rule even 3
small village. So the result is that the poor villagers are
between two—the soldiers and the dacoits. The
dacoits enter a village without asking permission,
They stay as long as they like • they take bullocks,
food, and money forcibly, and then leave. In a short
time the soldiers, having received information that
dacoits are in the village and that messengers have
been going to the Princes from the village, march
upon the place, arrest a number of the people, and
perhaps burn the village. Thus honest, quiet traders
and villagers suffer from both sides, and are unable to
resist either. I wish the mil t try would use more dis-
crimination. Because of their falling into dancer
from both sides, trade and work have greatly failed,
as the people feel no security. They are irritated
by the treatment which they receive from the
military."
The Thathanabaing, as I took leave, said:
"I may have said too much; I may have gone over
the bounds of caution; but all I haee said has bee 3
said solely out of a desire to do ge-,a co the poor and
suffering people of Burmah."
Some excitement has been caused by the arrest hi
Rangoon, on a charge of complicity in the insur-
rectionarzmovement at Henzadali of Kooungbah, the
wealthiest Burmese merchant in Mandalay. He wag
for many years the confidential broker to the Batobal
and Burmah Company. It is an open secret that
through him .was obtained the greater portion of the
information by which the French intrigues were de-
tected. Kooungbah has hitherto been known as the
leading supporter of the English Raj. A general
belief of his innocence is entertained ; and the arrest
is considered very injudicious, as it is almost equivalent
to declaring that no reliance can be placed on anY
Burman.

The survey for the railway from Mandalay to
Tounghoo has been commenced. Mr. Robert Gordon,
an engineer well known in the province, has been
selected by the Government for the work, and has left
for Kyouksai.
A force accompanied by Mr. Colquhoun has defeated
the insurgents near Sodoung, to the north of Tsagain,
capturing two chiefs.
Four hr.ndred men of the Prince Albert's (Somerset'
shire Light Infantry) and the Hampshire Regiment
arrived on the 7th inst. The troops are suffering
from excessive heat. Reinforcements are being sent
to Bhamo.

SIMLA, May S. ,
The Gazette of India publishes an announcement
stating that under the statute 21 and 22 -Victoria. caP.
106, the sovereign rights over the territory of Upper
Burmah are vested in the Queen.