The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-14 00:00:00

(See THE Sux (Jf yesterday.)

•
ON THE CONQUEST OF THE BURMAN PRO-
. VINCES OF TAVOY AND MERGUI.
6C The capture of the provinces from Tavoy to
Mergukappears to be an effectual and not difficult means of
prosecutigg the war agairist the Burmans.
The - following is a short sketch of these countries, derived
either from well known European authorities, or from native
communications entitled to credit. They extend from Marta-
ban, in about the lat. of 16. 30., to the island of Dornell, and
the river Pakehan, in about 11., which is the Siamese frontier
towards the south ; and they embrace generally about one
third of the breadth of the Peninsula or of the territory lying
between the sea coast and the river Menem. The Siamese
territories bound these provinces every where to the eastward.
The country is generally mountainous and woody • and a lofty
range of Nils runs along in a north and south direction, the
same which runs also nearly through the whole Malayan Pe-
ninsula. At Tavoy and Mergui, however, there are fertile
plains cultivated with rice.
The province of Martaban is scarcely included in the present
scheme ; the river of that name, although large, is rendered
useless to European navigation, in consequence of an extensive
sand which runs along its entrance, and the obstruction occa-
sioned by which causes at the commencement of every flood
tide a very dangerous bore. The coast front Martaban down to
Tavoy is unknown to Europeans, and so represented indeed in
the best charts. Mr. Gibson states, that it is a bold sandy beach
with a few rocks close to the shore, but with a safe channel be-
tween the main and the islands, in which there arc five or six
fathoms water.

The river of Tavoy is very broad, but so shallow, and
covered with innumerable islands, as to make the na-
vigation even of small boats a matter of difficulty.—
Between Crab Island, at the mouth of the river, there is excel-
lent safe anchorage; the town of Tavoy is eight leagues from
the mouth of the river, and situated upon its left bank ; it
has a wooden stockaded fort in a ruinous state, the shortest
rout to the town is from the sea-coast, lying directly west of it.
From the village of i%lornangan, there situated, a march of
three hours will conduct you to the banks of the river, opposite
the town, over hills of moderate elevation. Mr. Gibson has
frequently travelled by this road ; from Tavoy to Bankok, the
Capital of Siam, the distance is only seven days journey. The
plait) of the river of Tavoy is extensive and fertile, and well
cultivated with rice, which is generally as cheap here as in any
part of India : the highest range of mountains from the coast is
distant about 10 leagues.
The port of Mergui, in Siamese Merit, is accessible at all
times without a pilot. The town is situated upon an island,
and the houses are visible as soon as you have passed to the
eastward of King's Island. A large ship may at flood tide ap-
proach in RIX fathom water to within a stone's throw of it, it
has a stockade fort in a ruinous state, defended by a few rag-
ged soldiers :" the island on which the town is situated is exten-
sively cultivated with rice; but the plain on the main land is
not above a mile and a half or two miles in breadth. The old
town of Tannassarim in Siamese Tanao, which is also the
name of the whole province, on the left bank of the river, is
about 30 miles up, but can scarcely now be said to exist, as
there are not above a dozen houses in the place. The river,
after you pass old Tannassarie takes a North and North
Easterly course, its source is in the Siamese territory, not
very distant, and it passes through the highest range of
mountains.
At Mergui the first which is a low range of hills is
within a mile and a half or two miles from the coast as al-
ready mentioned, the second range, which is very lofty, is full
10 leagues' off: The Burman frontier extends to a third
range a few leagues beyond these. The breadth of the
Peninsula at Mergui is about eighty miles, through the Si-
amese territory, a military road has been constructed
fit fur the passage of Elephants and carriages from the
post of Wang-alai on the Gulf of Siam, about thirty years
ago, by. the late King of Siam for the purpose of invading
ergut and Tavoy. The invasion was accordingly attempted
and failed, the Siamese having retreated panic struck after
reaching as far as Mergui. Mergui abounds in grain, cattle,
poultry, and fish. The provinces of Tavoy and Mergui form-
ed a portion of the Siamese territory, until conquered between
40 and 60 years ago by the Burmans. The inhabitants are,
however,, neither Burmans nor Siamese, but a peculiar race
with a language of their own, they are called by the Siamese,
Merg. Roth Mergui and Tavoy ever since they came into
the possession of the Burmese have been in a state of decay,
although at one period places of considerable commerce ; this
has arisen.in some. respects from their situation having render-
ed them it constant subject of contention between the two na-
tionip—etposing them to the invasions and perpetual hostilities
of atteparty. and to the violence and oppression of the other.—
It toifided, that the bulk of the population, who, as already
stated, are not Burnians, waold. be happy at any political
change which held out any promise of amending their condi-
tion. Deeides these, it may be observed that a considerable
portion of She inhabitants of the towns are descendants of
Alahommedan settlers from Ilindoostan: it is asserted, indeed,
that they would greatly prefer, the yoke of the Siamese to that
of the Burman*.
The recovery of theme provinces of Portuguese Christians, Is
known to have been ever ,since their loss a great object of am-
bition with..the,Siamose Government, and that indeed to which
their military efforts have been principally directed, there is
little doubt too, but that as soon as the war between the Bri-
tish Government and the Burmans is known, they_will make
an effort for their recovery. It is with much difficulty that
the [humans are able to maintain these two provinces even
against the feeble attacks of the Siamese. In fact, they are re-
moved from the strength and resources of both nations. They
would only be easily conquered or effectually protected by a
maritime force, which neither nation can supply. On the
land side they are every where rendered difficult to approach
by ranges of mountains and extensive forests, through which a
Burman or Siamese army cannot be led to any effectual pur-
pose, owing to the difficulty or impossibility of provisioning
and keeping them together, which is incident to their barbarous
mode of warfare
Mr. Gibson is of opinion that a thousand British- troops
would be sufficient for the conquest of Mergui any Tavoy.
Mergui would fall the most readily as a broadside or two from
a small man of war would drive the Burnians out of the stock.
ailed fort, the possession of which would be a key to the whole
province. From the hostile state of the population, the distance
of these provinces from the resources of the Burman govern-
anent, the extensive and discontented conquered province of
Peque intaveningi and our command of the coast it is presum-
ed, that it' necessary, there will be no difficulty in maintaining
diem as a permanent conquest.
The advantages attending the possession of these provinces
may be shortly enumerated, the conquest would be effected with
eaanvcdsontnihtgeyuteat est
dt
at
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ambitionswaomou
same
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eme
Boe
wmnololuar
lend
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enfoear-
less difficulty and expence than probably any other attack on
h
selitvwerheebnlomaa• duepo,
the Burman
power
u ct
although the provinces in question are egregiously misruled or
neglected by them, they attach much importance to them as
being the only permanent and considerable conquest which they
have made from the Siamese, their inveterate and national
enemy. If permanently occupied by the British, it might rea-
sonably be expected that by thus separating the two nations
from each ether, an end would in a great measure be put to
those cruel wars between them which, for the last halt' century,
have continued to desolate the frontier provinces of both na-
tions, wasted their own resources, and rendered an intercourse
with them less beneficial than might otherwise have been rea-
sonably expected.
The port of Mergui is the only safe and convenient one in
the whole Eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal. It is accessible
at all seasons and a constant intercourse might be kept up be-
tween it and Calcutta throughout the year. Forty years ago,
when we had to contend for superiority in India, with the naval
power of France, such a port as that of Mergui was eagerly de-
sired as a convenient place of shelter and repair for our disabled
ships, and it may still be prudent to look to the possible recur-
rence of the same state of' things, during the last wars, the pri-
vateers of the enemy refitted both at Mergui and Tavoy, and to
deprive them of such a resource, may be considered as an ob-
ject of some importance. Mergui, it may be presumed, is well
fitted to become the station of a Naval depot, the alarbao Arse-
nal and Docks, the best wood of India next to teak is found in
the neighbouring forests, and teak itself is floated down in abun-
dance by the river of Manahan, from whence it may be con-
veyed seaways by a voyage of one-third the length of that
from Rangoon to Calcutta, the rise of the tide is from four.
teen to fifteen feet, thus rendering the place than any sta-
tion to the Eastward, more suitable for the construction of
wet Docks.
Neither Mergui nor Tavoy are, as far as I have been in-
formed, unhealthy places. In a commercial point of view,
great advantages may be derived-from the possession of Mergu I
and Tavoy. The mountains every where, but particularly at
Tavoy, produce abundance of tin mines, of which even at
present are worked in sonic situations. The forests yield Sa-
pan wood, the dye at present in great demand in the English
market, which none of our own colonies !Wind, nor indeed any
other part of the world, in the same abundance. Ivory, bees'
d
wax, and rice, may be stated as the other principal commo-
ities ; while our wares and manufactures might at the same
. time be disseminated through the southern provinces of the
litirmen and Siamese empires, as, well by the two rivers, as by
- hind carriage.
From the vicinity of Mergui to the Malay islands, the
cheapness of provisions, and the existence of the tin ores, the
Chinese would soon resort to these provinces in great numbers,

land we should, in due time, experience the Utmost beneficial
results from the settlement and intercourse of that peek.--
The security and safety which the establishment of a British
government would afford, would be the certain signal fot
thousands of the native inhabi!ants to repair to, and thus re-
medy the depopulation which has been occasioned our standard-
Emigrations, by the misgovernment of the Bumians, of this
nature, are even at present taking place from the Burman to
the Siamese territory. I heard, while I was at Siam, that not
less than 32,000 of the Mon, or Pegue race, had, a few months
before we arrived in that country,'imigrated from the province
of Martahanf in a bogy, to,Siam ; and this statement has been
confirmed to me, within the last few days; by the members of
the Burman mission to Cachin China.
Viewed as a military position, the situation of Mergui and
Tavoy is peculiarly advantageous. Besides giving us posh''
sion, perhaps, of the only really commodious, secure,- and as
part in the Bay of Bengal, we should he placed, in re-
ference both to the Bunnans and Siamese, in an attitude to
dictate to both from 3largui. The capital of Siam is no more
than seven marches distant ; and at Tavoy, the tributary and
discontented kingdom of Pegue is immediately exposed to us.
In the event of hostilities, therefore, at any time becoming ne-
cessary, we should unquestionably be placed in a position to
assail our enemy upon the most vulnerable point, and at the
least risk and expcnce to ourselves. Fugitives from Tavoy
and Alark,mi, in considerable numbers. are always to be found
every inVee.es.l sr; information.''
at
ev abtileono.r. acting as guides, and furnishing

SPANISH AND ITALIAN REFUGEES.

/

J

M A NSION-HoUsE.--Testerdny a Deputation
from about 60 or 70 Italian Refugees waited on the lioxn
MaYoa, to intreat his assistance to save diem from perishing.
They stated, in the French language, that they had not mit ,l
any victuals for the Ltst four and twenty hours; o.e Govern-
ment of this country had allowed them a weekly sum till wittint
....,..
the last month, since which time they had been struggiing wit I
want, and the humanity of the British people alone could ta.t':
them ; many of them lied been turned out from their lodgings,
and were about the streets of ilary-la-bonne,
without shoes
to their feet. They were all of good education and character,
but knew not how to obtain the means of supporting them-
selves by their literary exertions, from the want of retonunea-
(lotions. A Spaniard, likewise, in a very feeling manner, de-
scribed the condition of his countrymen. He had himself re-
ceived three bullets in his body while fighting under Wel-
lington, and many of his countrymen. who had also been
wounded in the wars, were starving in the streets of London: a
morsel of food had not entered his lips since the day before
yesterday. It was a dreadful humiliation for a man who had
had judged riklitly, in a
been an officer in the army for twenty-eight years to beg, but
he knew no other mode of eacaping starved" The LolD
Maxon. lamented the impossibility of his contributing, except
in a very alight degree, to alleviate such misery. But he
the powerful aid of the Press, and the sympathy of the attla-
ent throughout the country ; to the same source he again
appealed on the present occasion, convinced that when it was
the streets without bread, the hand of charity• would be
and extended to their relief. His Lordship
prior occasion, in calculating u2on
stated that many Spanish and Italian unfortunates fere w'ini
opene c
money to relieve the immediate necessity of the Italians,
ofand
recommended an application at the Office of the Secretary
State. The donation of his Lordship, though considerable. Ima
it been to an individual, could not serve such a vast multitude
above a day or two at the most. He expected that in the coursc
of a week a subscription would be raised for their aid ; a meet-
ing for that purpose ; the
would shortly take place; mu., 'n
mean time, 3lr. Holder would receive any subscriptions, taking
care that they were judiciously applied. then gave a sum o_

ageß
fitotrT BRITISH N
mining s
It:Se
in the Olds
but New World, for while immense sums hale
been subscribed in England for exploring O.
gold and silver mines of South America (the
shares of which have risen to an unprecetleote'
height in the Money Market), a nearly squid r
vestment has taken place at home for prosecuting
n
those of oar own Islands by the
(71:111:ihoen
317 soetnotosleyems quite sts
United Mines' Company, who have already
taken possession of, and are actively olt'
ing above a dozen extensive mines in Core
wall with the most sanguine hopes of success.--
The management 'and arrangement of these too
vast concerns rests entirely in London Directors,
who have appointed Mr. JOHN 1 AYi.ort to °
Engineering department of the first, and PO'
fessor MILLINGTON, of the Royal Institution, 1°
the second, and we heartily wish them all the
success which their unwearied exertions for the
benefit of their respective concerns deserves.
We are informed that the proposed new road
from this city, through Ilraludeao, to Peterstield t
is so far advanced in the shares (tbe only poio.
ever in question), as to afford perfect security 01
its success.—( Iffinehester Paper.)
THE FRIENDS Or GOOD GOVERNMENT tilrOOgh.
Out the world will no doubt receive pleasure from
the assurance that the publication of The Oriel'
(al Herald, which has now been before the Sri'
tish Public twelve months, has kindled, in ever,
quarter of Great Britain, a spirit of enquiry ill°
the misgovernment of India, unknown since ILI!
days of Warren Hastings's impeachment. 'DI
spirit has evinced itself in a very general demo
for more ji equent as well as more ample itlf°rmil:
lion on Indian affairs than it has been hither':
found practicable to lay before the reading claw',
of this country, in the ordinary publicatiors
tiyheindlearye.steld'oitTethelet twheelfwairsehoefs
tohfot hose fo°9tfae.seiar
w hich can only be promoted by tit tPracellliegotufhdieiPtiuuotbl:
Mr. BUCKINGHAM intends to co
lic mind in Englund to their 0000'
1 the pre,
Once a Fortnight, issuing Number 0
a
Ifith of ever/ •
sent size and price on the Ist and -- moo/.
month, so as to unite, by this increaseVre'ansper ;'
of appearance, the advantages of a' I.`e;P:B ar•
with those of a Magazine and Review.
d NI
rangement will ensure its being earlier elt
t,„ Ind ,n •
in all that forms the department Of lil roe l6.
Intelligence, whether Civil or Military, •Lteisos,
tile or Political, as well as in its RePorls° peg'
lic Debates in England on all subjects colotiii,
with the Government or Commerce of i'r
Mout►l.! •
titan can possibly be effected by ail it
publish his Journal
11 ado,
Periodical ; at the same time that it, %‘1
Of its including within its pages such " I°' I.a
and variety of Original Articles 01' "
,
and European topics as could Dot
of " "
pressed within the usual limits 110"
.;.
Paper—thus avoiding the defects
The del°
curing the advantages of each. ireolf
for this work in India has been IP Lot'
• f eacu
sboeinggrelaatn,detidni;t One Thousand coPies °J :0 tlilt
eel to be sent toataKill
the several Numbers that had arrive," tip
country had been sold off within a day a'tPordr"
been wel n 5
sidencies
to the remoter settlements. To meet lillW'ocla
the incseasing sale of the Work in Englailt '41,t0
moretthe
peroe as
1.
6.
ji
has progressively advanced during the 'hate a
months, it has been found necessarY talr
separate and exclusive establishment for ;3 'old
• lication, which will in future be at No` he'
Bond-street, where communications for ,
tor, Orders for the Publisher, a"
monis for the Printer, of The Oriental rif ;Into
are requested to be addressed. It will Sons
to be sold also by Ms. J. itichardson,ona
Cornhill, and by all Booksellers toTe"
Country.

Aim en to

(linger

Pvpper -

Cotton -
Aloes -
Arrow Root

Balsam -

4Ark

Cassia Fistula .
Cloves

Cochineal - -
eephants' Teeth
Gum -
Hemp - -
Hide%
Hutu -
I -
Ipecacu,mha -
Jaldp -
oil /Whale -
Castor
Coco Nut
Palm
Pearl Shell -
Nay Apple -
Rice and Paddy
Srtgo
Tallow
'fortune Shell -
Tartle • -

IV 00U.