[Footnote 38:  From the sequel, this unexplained term seems to imply treachery.—­E.]

The 2d, some villains set fire to a house in the fish street, which was soon put out, and the incendiaries escaped.  It is generally thought these fires were raised by some base renegados who lurk about the town, and who came from Miaco:  Yet, though much suspected, no proof has hitherto been brought against them.  There has, however, been orders given to construct gates and barriers in different parts of all the streets, with watches at each, and no person to be allowed to go about in the night, unless he be found to have very urgent business.  Another villain got this night into the house of a poor widow, meaning to have robbed her; but on her making an outcry, he fled into the wood opposite our house, where the Pagoda stands.[39] The wood was soon after beset all around by above 500 men, but the robber could not be found.  At night, when we were going to bed, there was a sudden alarm given that there were thieves on the top of our house, endeavouring to set it on fire.  Our ladders being ready, I and others went up immediately, but found nobody, yet all the houses of our neighbours were peopled on the top like ours on similar alarms.  This was judged to be a false alarm, risen on purpose to see whether any one would be found in readiness.  At this very time there was a house set on fire, a good way from our house, but the fire was soon quenched.  The night before, three houses were set a-fire in different parts of the town, but the fires were all extinguished at the beginning, so that no hurt was done.  At this time, an order was issued to give notice of all the inhabitants dwelling in every house, whether strangers or others; and that all who were liable to suspicion should be banished from the dominions of the two kings of Firando.  Bars or gates were erected to shut up the passages at the ends of all the streets, and watches were appointed in different places, with orders not to go about crying and making a noise, as had been done hitherto without either form or fashion.  Yet, notwithstanding these precautions, a villain set fire about ten o’clock this night to a house near the Pagoda, opposite our house.  He was noticed by the watch, who pursued him in all haste, but he escaped into the wood above the Pagoda.  The wood was immediately beset by more than 500 armed men, and old king Foyne came in person with many of his nobles to assist in the pursuit; yet the incendiary escaped, and I verily believe he ran about among the rest, crying stop thief as, well as the best.

[Footnote 39:  This word signifies either the idol, or the idol temple, or both.—­Purch.]

On the night of the 4th, fire was set to several houses, both in the town and country round.  An order was now given, to have secret watches in various parts of the town every night, and that no person should go out during the night except upon important occasions, and then to have a light carried before them, that it might be seen who they were.  If this rule be duly enforced, our house-burners will be put to their wits end.  I proposed these measures to the king and others above a week before, and now they are put in execution.