gers came out that afternoon, to endeavour to
induce the general not to enter it; but a reply was sent that this
was out of the question, that no harm would befall the inhabitants,
and that--as soon as he entered--the general would be ready to
receive any persons qualified to treat for peace.

Some hours before daybreak the army marched forward and, by
sunrise, were close to the town. The position was found to be
extremely strong. Every hill commanding the place had been
fortified, to the very summit. Strong stockades ran in every
direction, and it was evident that a great number of men must have
been engaged, for a long time, in attempting to render the place
impregnable.

Not a soldier, however, was to be found. A native of the place
presently met them, with the news that the governor and troops had
evacuated it, with the exception of a small party who were firing
the town. This story was corroborated by wreaths of smoke, rising
at various points.

The troops pressed forward at the top of their speed. On entering
the town, they found that the native population had all been forced
to leave and, piling their arms, they set to work to extinguish the
flames; which they did not, however, succeed in doing until nearly
half the town was destroyed. Fortunately the fire was checked
before it reached the great magazines of grain, and other stores,
for the army.

The belief that the negotiations had been only pretexts to arrest
the advance of the troops against the town, until the expected
reinforcements arrived, was confirmed by the natives; who presently
came in from hiding places where they had taken refuge, until their
army retired. They said that, as soon as the news came of the fall
of Donabew, fresh levies were ordered to be collected in every part
of Upper Burma; while the whole population of the province had been
employed in adding to the defences of the town, which had been
already very strongly stockaded.

It was a disappointment to the force, which had hoped that the
occupation of Prome would bring about the submission of the court
of Ava; and enable them to be taken down the river in boats, and
embark, before the rainy season again set in. Nevertheless, the
prospect of passing that season at Prome was vastly more pleasant
than if it had to be spent at Rangoon. They were now inland, beyond
the point where the rains were continuous. The town was situated on
high ground, and the country round was open and healt