the
pagoda; and the different corps, successively taking up their positions
along a sloping woody ridge, formed the left of the line, the centre
of which extended from the pagoda to Kemmendine. When this position
was taken, the troops began to apply their intrenching tools with such
activity and skill, that, in about two hours their moving masses were
concealed behind a mound of earth. A detachment of the British army,
however, soon forced these intrenchments, and drove the whole line from
their cover. The intrenchments were discovered to be a succession of
holes, capable of receiving two men each, and so excavated as to shelter
their occupants from the weather as well as from the enemy. Every hole
contained a supply of water, rice, and fuel, and a bed of brushwood,
on which one man could sleep while the other kept watch. The Burmese
re-occupied these trenches in the evening, which they protected by a
strong corps; and on the next day they intrenched themselves within
musket-shot of the northern face of the great pagoda. As their fire
could now be brought to bear on the barracks of the soldiers, it became
necessary to dislodge them from various points; and a series of attacks
and combats commenced which lasted seven clays. Great spirit was
manifested by the Burmese troops; for when their left wing was defeated,
it merely retreated on the right, and the struggle was renewed until
that division also was routed, with the loss of 5,000 men. Still
undismayed, the Burmese general intrenched himself within four miles of
the great pagoda, at the village of Kokeen, but he was driven from his
post after several brilliant exploits, in which the operations of
the army were powerfully seconded by the flotilla. This was the last
conflict during this year: after it had taken place the Burmese general
retired to Donoobew, about fifty miles up the river. After their defeat
the Burmese had recourse to negociations; but they were found to be not
sincere, and therefore were unheeded. As a great number of inhabitants
had returned to Bangoon, they introduced incendiaries into that town,
who lighted up a conflagration which was not extinguished until more
than a fourth part of the place was destroyed. During the whole of this
campaign the British vessels and their boats were occupied in destroying
fire-rafts, most of which were about one hundred feet square, and
composed of dry wood piled up, with oil, turpentine, gunpowder, and
other combusti