Page 258 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SIAM
242
of this weapon. One day it burst, and the Burmese
was wounded. 1 Even before this
usurper severely
had been the advis-
accident, Alaungpaya considering
of the as he had not come
ability giving up siege,
for a and dreaded the advent
prepared long campaign,
of the rains, which had proved so disastrous to King
Tabeng Shwe T'i in 1559. The cause of the King's
illness was concealed, but orders were issued for the
to retire to Burma the Melamao route. The
army by
monarch was carried in a litter in the midst of
dying
his now harassed all the the
dispirited troops, way by
Siamese. He died in May 1760 at Taikkala, just before
the Salween River was reached. He was
only forty-
five of His career was one of which
years age. early
man be but he sullied his name
any might proud ; by
making an unjust attack upon an unoffending neighbour,
and rendered himself absurd by his religious pretensions.
The danger through which they had passed failed
to teach the Siamese the for union.
necessity King
who had that his of the
Ut'ump'on, thought resumption
crown was to be soon found his brother
permanent,
intriguing against him, and in I762, 1 fearing that his
life was in he retired once more to his
danger, monastery.
The indifference of the Siamese to the Burmese
peril
was fostered by the difficulties in which Manglok,"
the eldest son and successor of Alaungpaya, found him-
self. Rebels rose him on and for
up against every side,
two he was forced to for his throne. the
years fight By
he control over his
year 1762 had, however, gained
whole realm, with the of which was
exception Tavoy,
under the rule of one Huit'ongcha.
1
Burmese history makes no mention of this, but alleges that the illness of
Alaungpaya was caused by a boil or carbuncle.
This is Turpin's date. The P'ongsawadan says that this second abdication
took place in July 1760.
*
Known in Burma as Naung-doa-gyi.