The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s4.9

v4.c23.s4.9

In the fighting of a decade previously, when the Talaings were expelling the Burmese from the delta, the East India Company's buildings at Rangoon had been burnt to the ground. Thereupon the English avoided the mainland and in 1753 occupied Negrais Island, which was uninhabited save by fishermen, erecting a factory, with moat, glacis, walls and cannon. The French remained at Syriam and declared for the Talaings. The English were inclining towards the Burmese when Alaungpaya captured Rangoon; finding three English ships in the port, he seized their cannon as a matter of course but, hoping to enter into an agreement with them and thus secure more numerous cannon, he allowed the protest of Jackson, the captain of the ships, H.E.I.C.'s snow *Arcot*, and released the cannon. He then left for Shwebo, and the Talaings tried to recapture Rangoon. They bombarded it with the help of French ships, and finding Jackson ill ashore they put a prize crew on the *Arcot* and made her take part in the bombardment. Their attack failed and they would not let Jackson sail away till he had surrendered five of his cannon, probably nine pounders. The news of this reached Alaungpaya just when he was receiving the Company's envoy, Captain Baker, at Shwebo; he accepted Baker's repudiation, without believing it, and continued the negotiations, which ended in 1757 with an agreement whereby, in return for 700 lb. of powder, and one twelve pounder, annually, he ceded Negrais and a site at Bassein, in perpetuity, with the right to erect fortifications.¹