The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s3.127

v4.c23.s3.127

As the years passed, the raids resulted in the ruin of agriculture in upper Burma. Feeling unsafe, men deserted their fields, and Talaings or dacoits burnt what little crop was left. The last hope of replenishing the royal granaries vanished when the Talaings occupied the Kyaukse canals. They then surrounded Ava; after a siege of some months, it starved; the Talaings were on the point of going home when they learnt this from deserters, and in April, 1752, they forced their way into the outer city. Two days later the inner city (p. 513) opened its gates; the Talaing *yuvarājā* (crown prince) rode to the palace in state, dismounted and entered barefoot; he found the king in a great hall surrounded by his women, and greeted him courteously;⁴ the king replied: "In this mortal life there are happiness and woe. This is the hour of my woe. Take me and do with me as thou wilt, but spare my people." The Talaings seized the regalia, the royal treasures and the list of citizens, burnt the city to the ground, left a strong garrison, and returned with the captive king, court and people to Pegū.