considerably larger than it had been before the advance of our
army. Similar results were speedily manifest throughout the whole
district below the town. From the great forest that covered more
than half of it, the villagers poured out, driving before them
herds of cattle and, in two or three months, the country that had
appeared a desert became filled with an industrious population.
Order was established. The local civil officers were again
appointed to their former posts, but their powers of oppression and
intimidation were abrogated, by the order that no punishment beyond
a short term of imprisonment was to be inflicted on any person,
whatever, until the case had been brought before the British
authorities; and soon the only fear entertained by the people of
the rich district of the lower Irrawaddy was that the British
troops would march away, and leave them again to the oppression and
tyranny of their former masters.

The markets of Prome were abundantly supplied with food of all
sorts and, as everything was liberally paid for, any number of
bullocks were obtainable for, although the Burmese are forbidden by
their religion to kill cattle, and therefore keep them only for
draught purposes, they had no objection to our killing them; or
indeed, to eat the meat, when they could obtain it. Labour of all
kinds was abundant, and great numbers of canoes were constructed
for the purpose of bringing up supplies from the villages on the
river, and for the advance of the force at the end of the wet
season. Until this set in in earnest, small bodies of troops
marched through the forests; driving out the bands that infested
them, and plundered and killed the country people without mercy.

The general's aides-de-camp had a busy time of it, being constantly
employed in carrying orders to the towns and villages, in hearing
complaints and, in Stanley's case, entering into agreements for the
purchase of cattle and grain. When in Prome, he spent a good deal
of his spare time with his cousin who, having bought a horse,
frequently obtained leave to accompany him on his excursions on
duty. A warm friendship had sprung up between them. Harry was two
years older than Stanley, and had been at Eton up to the time that
he entered the army. He was, however, in manner no older than his
cousin; whose work, for the three years previous to the outbreak of
the war, had rendered him graver and more manly than a life spent
among lads of his own a