find that the recent victory of the invaders had not
increased their demands. He at once sent down to accept them but,
as no official ratification was sent, the march continued; while
Mr. Price again returned to Ava. When the force was within four
days' march of the capital, the latter returned with the Burmese
commissioners and other high functionaries, with the ratified
treaty, and the first instalment of the money that was to be paid.

It was a disappointment to the army that, after their long march
and many sufferings, they were not to be allowed to enter the
enemy's capital in triumph. Undoubtedly, however, the course taken
was the wisest. Ava was regarded as a sacred city, and it was to
save it from the humiliation of being occupied by the invaders that
the king had brought himself to accept the terms of the treaty. Had
the English general insisted upon entering the capital, and signing
the treaty there, he would have found no one to meet him. The
population would have been driven out, the king and court would
have retired farther up the country, and the war might have
continued for an indefinite time.

Already its cost had been enormous, exceeding 5,000,000 pounds
sterling. During the first eleven months after landing at Rangoon,
nearly half of the Europeans died and, from the time they advanced
from that town with fresh reinforcements from India, to the arrival
near Ava, a similarly heavy loss was sustained. Four percent of the
number engaged was killed in action. The climate of Aracan was
still more deadly, as three-fourths of the white troops employed
there died, and very few of the survivors were ever fit for service
afterwards. The sepoys suffered less in Aracan, losing only ten
percent of their number, though nearly half the force were in
hospital for some time.

According to agreement the Burmese, as soon as peace was concluded,
sent down a large number of boats for the conveyance of the troops
down the river. As they descended it, the garrisons left at Melloon
and other places were withdrawn. One of the native regiments, with
some elephants and guns, left the force at Sembeughewn; and marched
thence to Aracan, for the purpose of investigating the country, and
proving whether it was practicable for the passage of troops in
case another advance upon Ava should ever be necessary. They found
the road unexpectedly good, and met with no resistance whatever,
except in the passage of some passes over the mou