Page:The founding of South Australia.djvu/19

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IN EARLY DAYS.
13

which characterised every act of his life," of "his energies and resources," and of "the clearness and tenacity of his powers of memory."

Similar excellences appear to have attached to all the Gouger brothers—they did at all events as regarded Robert, with whose history we are alone concerned in these pages, and also as regarded Alfred, the youngest of the family.

Before passing away from our reference to Henry Gouger, one incident connected with his residence in Burmah may be recorded here. After his escape from prison, the first Burmese war was in progress, but the British were anxious for peace, and a Treaty had been practically agreed to. Gouger in due course reported himself to Sir Archibald Campbell, the General Commanding, who received him with great kindness and consideration. The army continued to advance until it reached Yandaho, a place well known as being the spot on which the belligerents settled their animosities, and here Gouger was able to render very important services to Sir Archibald Campbell and to the Government. We will let Mr. Henry Gouger tell the story in his own words.

"On the 22nd or 23rd of February [1826], two dignitaries from the Burmese Court arrived in the camp, with honest instructions this time, to consent to the terms made known to them. The preliminaries had been complied with by the release of the prisoners, and the arrival of a quarter of a million sterling in specie, being one-quarter of the stipulated indemnity.