The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-26
THE ROAD TO MANDALAY
H. RANG0oM THE BOOM CITY

struction with the greater portion Of
wall areas made entirely Of shutters
tnat may be either thrown entirely op-
en- or so arranged an to allow the
breeze full play through sleeping
rooms. These residences, situated in
the midst Of extensive grounds and
surrounded by shrubbery and the BIOS
soming trees that make. Rangoon so
coiorful during the, rainy season. are
comfortable dwellings during the
greater part Of the year.
Burma came into English hands
without great expenditure of blood
upon the part OF Great Britain. In its
requirement there fs repeated the his
tory OF the British army following the
flag OF English merchants, and of
conquest following the gaining OF
commercial foothold in q foreign land.
although the early occupation was at
tended by many reverses. From the
birthday OF Rangoon until the begin
ming Of the Nineteenth century the
English along the Burma coast might
have reported progress to their home
government in the words Of the Amer
lean railroad engineer whose telegram
read:
ION again. on again. gone again
Finnegan."
english because the English stood with
them against the French, and at 9TH
er times English traders and manu-
facturers were murdered or expelled
Tor tavoring the cause of rebels who
sought to overthrow native rule In
fS24 the Burmese general Maha BAN
dula. made ambitious plans to invade
Bengal with an army recruited from
amalgamated tribes, and Great Britain
declared war against Burma. A battle
at Rangoon, in which $4,000 or so, 900
men took part shattered Bandula's
army and when the general was killed
In a cannonade at Donabyu, more than
year after the beginning OF the war,
the victory Of the English was com.
plete. After the few minor engage
ments Incidental to the British ad-
vance at Yandahoo, a treaty was sign
ed, stipuiating that the Burmese
should pay s5,00o,0oo indemnity and q
British resident was appointed.
Thebaw. ninth in descent from AL
ompra, bore the titles Lord of Ele-
plants, Lord of Many White Elephants,
Lord of Gold, Silver, Rubies, Amber
and Jade, Sovereign OF the Empires of
Thunaparanta, Jambudipa and other
Great Empires and countries, and OF
all Umbrella Bearing Chiefs, Suppor-
ter of Religion, Descendant of the
Sun, Arbiter Of Life, King OF Right
eousness, King Of Kings and Possess
or Of Boundless Wisdom. But he did
unwisdom to create monopolies inju-
rious to British trade. and to govern
in such a lax manner that he lost con-
troll OF many of the warlike tribes.
He also had a member of his family
executed In his capital, Mandalay, and
when the government of India with
drew it's representative from the Bur-
mese court by way Of expressing in
dignation, the Possessor of Boundless
Wisdom welcomed French and Italian
ministers and endeavored to form al
liances with other European powers.
He sealed the death warrant Of his
kingdom when he fined the Bomba-
Burma Trading Company 100000. and
declined to submit the case to arbitra-
ton. When the British government
resented this Thebaw called upon the
Burmese to drive the English into~the
sea. The result was an advance to
Mandalay a bloodless conquest and
the exiIement Of King Thebaw to In
dia. where he has since resided.
The great growth OF Rangoon has
taken place since the overthrow Of ma
tive rule twenty-four years ago. At
present residence lots in the suburbs
are selling for $4,000 an acre, with
| an unprecedented upward trend, and
all living expenses are about twice
what they are in India today and three
| times what they were in Rangoon be-
FORE 1T assumed metropolitan aspect
That Rangoon is destined to become
| a great gateway to an important As
ian market for manufactured articles
and various commodities exported by
| western countries Is beyond dispute.
| The "swadeshi' movement against
English goods Is likely to give outsid-
ers an advantage in all Indian mar
kets for sometime to come. The cues
ton asked in Rangoon is why Amerf-
oNA fNrA 30 hnl,
portunities in this growing market.
TOm0rrOw-The Road to Mandalay.
HI-The IndOIent Burmese.