NOTE 1.—­This date is no doubt corrupt. (See note 3, ch. lii.)

NOTE 2.—­MIEN is the name by which the kingdom of Burma or Ava was and is known to the Chinese.  M. Garnier informs me that Mien-Kwe or Mien-tisong is the name always given in Yun-nan to that kingdom, whilst the Shans at Kiang Hung call the Burmese Man (pronounced like the English word).

The title given to the sovereign in question of King of BENGAL, as well as of Mien, is very remarkable.  We shall see reason hereafter to conceive that Polo did more or less confound Bengal with Pegu, which was subject to the Burmese monarchy up to the time of the Mongol invasion.  But apart from any such misapprehension, there is not only evidence of rather close relations between Burma and Gangetic India in the ages immediately preceding that of our author, but also some ground for believing that he may be right in his representation, and that the King of Burma may have at this time arrogated the title of “King of Bengal,” which is attributed to him in the text.

Anaurahta, one of the most powerful kings in Burmese history (1017-1059), extended his conquests to the frontiers of India, and is stated to have set up images within that country.  He also married an Indian princess, the daughter of the King of Wethali (i. e, Vaicali in Tirhut).

There is also in the Burmese Chronicle a somewhat confused story regarding a succeeding king, Kyan-tsittha (A.D. 1064), who desired to marry his daughter to the son of the King of Patteik-Kara, a part of Bengal.[1] The marriage was objected to by the Burmese nobles, but the princess was already with child by the Bengal prince; and their son eventually succeeded to the Burmese throne under the name of Alaungtsi-thu.  When king, he travelled all over his dominions, and visited the images which Anaurahta had set up in India.  He also maintained intercourse with the King of Patteik Kara and married his daughter.  Alaungtsi-thu is stated to have lived to the age of 101 years, and to have reigned 75.  Even then his death was hastened by his son Narathu, who smothered him in the temple called Shwe-Ku ("Golden Cave"), at Pagan, and also put to death his Bengali step-mother.  The father of the latter sent eight brave men, disguised as Brahmans, to avenge his daughter’s death.  Having got access to the royal presence through their sacred character, they slew King Narathu and then themselves.  Hence King Narathu is known in the Burmese history as the Kala-Kya Meng or “King slain by the Hindus.”  He was building the great Temple at Pagan called Dhammayangyi, at the time of his death, which occurred about the year 1171.  The great-grandson of this king was Narathihapade (presumably Narasinha-pati), the king reigning at the time of the Mongol invasion.