The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s4.15

v4.c23.s4.15

The two ships contained thirty-five cannon (twenty-four pounders), five field guns, 1300 muskets, and ammunition. These were a godsend to Alaungpaya, and it was largely on their account that he gave the crews, over 200 men, their lives: white gunners were too valuable to execute. They were reasonably treated and given Burmese wives; some of them became captains of the guard; the rest were a *corps d'élite* who played no small part in major actions, and when too old to follow the armies they were allowed to retire in the feringhi villages of Shwebo district (p. 495): their descendants are indistinguishable from the surrounding population save by their religion and occasionally by the colour of their eyes.