BASSEIN DISTRICT.
194
numerous quartz pebbles. Soapstone is found in the Arakan Hills, chiefly on their eastern slopes. Most of the lime used in the District is procured from a locality a few miles below Ngaputaw on the Bassein river. The quantity is inexhaustible, the quality good, and access easy. History.
Ptolemy,
—
known of
Little is
in his sketch
the
early history of
the
District.
of the hydrography of India beyond the Ganges,
From the range of Mseandrus flow down all the rivers beyond Ganges, until you come to the river Besynga.’ This Besynga has been
says
‘
the Bassein branch of the Irawadi, and the Mons Maeandrus with Yoma-daung, the range forming the backbone of Arakan. In old Talaing histories the ‘32 cities of Bassein’ are mentioned in 625 a.d. as forming part of the kingdom of Pegu. About 1250 A.D. the Talaing princess, Um-madan-di, ascended the throne; but a few years later Bassein was conquered by the Burmese. In 1289 identified with
A.D.,
When
according to Talaing history, Bassein
again
passed to
Pegu.
monarch of the Talaing dynasty, became king (1383 A.D.), Lauk-bya, Governor of Myaung-mya, proposed to assist the Burmese in conquering Pegu and the acceptance of his Razadhi'rit, the greatest
between the two kingdoms. In 1686 the Governor of Madras determined to establish a settlement in Negrais, then considered a portion of Arakan ; but the first expedition proved •unsuccessful. In 1687, however, Negrais was taken possession of in the name of the East India Company, but no settlement was made there until 1753. At this time the war between the Burmese and Peguans, which ended in the complete subjugation of the latter, was at its climax. Both Burma and Pegu sought British aid, which was offer led to incessant warfare
refused impartially
subsequently,
it
was urged that we should side with
the Burmese, as the Takings had succeeded in obtaining the assistance of our rivals the French,
who
then had a settlement at Syriam below
Rangoon.
The King
sent ambassadors to Negrais, who were by Captain Baker, then in charge of the British factory in that town. Soon after this (1775), ^ mission was despatched to the Burmese King, in order to obtain a formal grant of Negrais and the site of the Bassein factory, as it was considered that the whole country had passed to the Burmese monarchy. Unfortunately, about this time the British ships near Rangoon had been forced to aid the Takings and the Burmese King could not forgive this treacher}', as he considered it. The English authorities insisted on absolute neutrality, but their local agents were in consequence suspected by both sovereigns. In 1757, a cession of Negrais and of ground at Bassein was obtained in perpetuity, as it was thought. In 1759, the Negrais establishment was withdrawn, and only a few persons were left in charge of the island and of the Company’s property.
escorted
from
of
Burma
Bassein
