estilent;
and the force was glad, indeed, to march on the next morning from
the locality.

They gained something, but not much, from the change. For the next
fifty miles, dead bodies were met with at very short intervals and,
each day before camping, many corpses had to be removed before the
tents could be fixed.

It was now known that the Burmese army, in its retreat, had been
concentrated at Melloon, where the reserve of 10,000 men had been
posted. On the 27th, the division encamped within four miles of
that town. They had now marched a hundred and forty miles, from
Prome, without meeting a single inhabitant of the country, or being
enabled to obtain any cattle, whatever, for the supply of the
troops, so effectually had the enemy wasted the country as they
retired.

Melloon stood on the opposite bank of the Irrawaddy; and letters
had arrived from that town saying that a commissioner had arrived,
from Ava, with full powers from the king to conclude a treaty of
peace. Colonel Adair and Stanley, accordingly, were sent off the
next morning to Melloon, to arrange for an immediate meeting for
the commissioners. However, they could come to no arrangement, the
Burmese leaders insisting that so important a business could only
be carried on when a favourable day arrived; and that no time
could, at present, be stated. Seeing that the principal object of
the Burmese was to gain time, the colonel informed them through
Stanley that, as no arrangements had been made, the troops would
recommence their advance as soon as he returned to the camp and,
accordingly, the next morning the division moved forward to a town
immediately opposite Melloon.

That place stood on the face of a sloping hill and, as the
Irrawaddy was here but 600 yards broad, a good view was obtained of
the fortifications. The principal stockade was in the form of a
square, about a mile on each face, mounting a considerable number
of guns--especially on the side facing the river; and a succession
of stockades extended for a mile farther along the banks. The great
work was crowded with men. In front of the town lay a large fleet
of war boats, and larger craft with stores.

A short time after the troops reached the spot, a great noise of
gongs, drums, and other warlike instruments arose on the other
side, and crowds of boatmen were seen running down to the vessels.
These were soon manned, and oars got out, and they began to row up
the river. As, owing to the in