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Mills breaks off peace talk which threatens punitive purpose |
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Pangsha now suddenly declares that it is like a brother to the government and that we should only come along. They do not know how to respond to our reply why they then had said that they would defeat us with their rice pestles as we were like women and why they had threatened to destroy all villages which would befriend us and why they had annihilated Saochu. (240) The rumour that one slave girl still remains in Pangsha is apparently wrong as they would have tried to barter for peace by handing her over. Indeed the envoys insist that she has already been sold to Burma. As peace with Pangsha would have thwarted the purpose of the entire expedition and as they had given us enough reason for punitive action, Mills soon breaks off the talks and sends back the Pangsha men, including their salaams. |
