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young and beautiful women of high rank, who pretended to have the gift
of prophecy, and to be possessed of power to turn aside a musket-ball.
The Shans were led to believe, indeed, that they were invincible; but
they soon discovered that they were unable to compete with the British.
Being surrounded by danger on every side, Sir A. Campbell resolved at
once to become the assailant; and on the 30th of November arrangements
were made to attack the enemy's forces on the following morning;
Commodore Sir James Brisbane with the flotilla being directed to
cannonade their posts on both sides of the river at daylight, while
a body of native infantry made a feigned attack on the centre as the
columns were marching out for the real attack on the Burmese left,
at Simbike. For this purpose the principal force was formed into two
columns: one under Brigadier-general Cotton, which marched by the direct
road; and the other, led by the commander-in-chief, which crossed the
Nawine river and moved along its right bank, in order to come round
to the Burmese rear, and to cut off all retreat. The attack everywhere
succeeded; the Shans themselves, though they fought with fury, were
obliged to take refuge in flight. Every division of the Burmese numerous
force was routed with great slaughter; and many of the chiefs,
among whom was Maha Nemiow, perished in the fight. One of the fair
prophetesses also received a bullet in her breast, and being carried to
a cottage in the rear expired. Sir A. Campbell now determined to advance
on Ava; and nothing was wanting in the troops, or forgotten by their
commander, to ensure success. But the enemy did not yet despair. The
stockades at Meaday were made as strong as art could make them; and at
Melloone, on the west bank of the Irrawaddy, the reserve under Prince
Memiaboo was augmented to 15,000 men. The British troops arrived at
Meaday on the 19th of December; and they found it just evacuated by the
rear-guard of the enemy, the Burmese having retired to Melloone, where
they had received orders again to concentrate. The neighbourhood of
Meaday presented to the British a scene of horror and desolation. Within
and around the stockades the ground was covered with the dead and the
dying; the victims of wounds, disease, and want. The beach and the
surrounding jungles were filled with dogs and vultures, collected to
consume the loathsome prey. Round about the stockades gibbets were
erected, each bearing the moul