Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-11-23
ENGLAND AND BuRMAH.


story. But apparently he might
have pursued his murderous career
until the crack OF doom, had it not
been for the fact that in Il probably
unguarded moment he touched Eng
land in its tenderest points pocket
hook. The Bombay and Burmah
trading company is mammoth cor
-po;ation employing an army of men
in cutting and shipping lumber in the
Burmese territory. Its great wealth
rendered it Il tempting target for an
impecunious monarch, and The
baw proceeded to levy upon it the
enormous fine of f230.C00, or nearly
81, 150,0 900. This action failed to
impress the corporation fayorably,
and at last the English viceroy of
India proposed to Thebaw an arbi-
tration in reference to the matter.
This proposal the Burmese king de-
clined, very insolently; and after
some fruitless attempts at negotia
ton war was formally declared.
Burmah is situated in the southern
part of Asia, beyond the river Gan
ges has an area of about 100000
square miles and population esti-
mated at 4, 900, 900. In addition to
fertile plains Burmah is rich in ruby
mines, while sapphires, the topaz,
amethyst and many other precious
stones are found in the beds Of riv-
ulets. Silver and iron mines also
exist, as we'll as some famous petro-
leum wells. The climate is generally
healthy, especially in the billy dis
tricts and the country possesses all
the elements of prosperity. The re-
ligion Of the country is Buddhism.
King Thebaw was born in 1858
and succeeded to the throne in 1878.
He lnaugurated his reign by abolish
ing all the monopolies which his
father had granted to his favorites
and proclaimed freedom of trade.
But this good commencement was
soon followed by an evil reaction,
and he caused the arrest of his nu-
merous brothers, numbering about
fifty, lest they should couspire
against him, and is said to have them
with great cruelty. In March, 1879,
the young king suddenly ordered
some forty Of his relatives to be mas
sacred. and his mandate was prompt
ly obeyed; subsequently many hun
dreds of Thebaw's relatives and
members of his court were put to
fearful tortures and slaughtered.
These acts caused great excitement
in British India and led to the with
dra wal Of the British Resident. This
massacre was followed by others
even more horrible, and the embassy
was finally forced to leave Mandalay
the capital.
The British force numbers 10000
men, 1000 camp followers and two
elephant batteries and its fotilla
comprises forty.five steamers, flats
and floating batteries, the latter be-
ing fitted out from six of the largest
barges. Each of the floating bat
teries carries two 6-pounder howitzers
and is attended by armed launches
Twelve 25-pounder siege guns are
mounted on the steamers. 1t is
stated the strength of the Burmese
standing army is about 10000 men
which, however, can be conslderabl,
increased by irregular and Temporal
~ Ievies. The army is almost alto
gether lacking in both cavalry ant
artillery. When in the field thu
Burmese army is said to be rapid il
movement, and quickly form in
trenchments, excavating pits to oh
, tain shelter both from the enemy
fire and the weather. Behind thes
rudely formed earthworks, and undo
, the impression that the position Cal
, not be turned, the Burmese warrio
is decidedly dangerous. He has on
advantage over mere civilized 70
t IN that he provides his own commits
} sariat, carrying a supply of ric
around his waist and for other pro
, visions depending upon the resource
of the country through which h
, passes. It is imp obable, however
that the Burmese can make any pre-
| longed or successful stand agains
/ their present foes, and the result o
: the war will unquestionably be
great gain of territory and infuenc
5 by England.