Although the Christians showed greater personal valour than the rest, their lack of military training caused the loss of the French quarter. The pickets were sound asleep when the Burmese fired the upper part of the building where the Bishop lived. The Christians crowded into the church for shelter and the shrieks of the women and children gave indications of danger more terrible in the darkness. A Christian who had become separated from his friends was massacred on the spot. The others made a stubborn defence, and although they had been taken by surprise, they appeared to be invincible. The enemy, repulsed on all sides, made an attack on the Dutch quarter. The reputation of the bravery exhibited by the Dutch had attracted many Siamese and Chinese to their quarter, thinking that they would be safe there. All assisted in the common defence. They built walls of the remains of the destroyed pyramids. The Chinese found a quantity of money there but the Christians received only some pieces of lead as their share. The Siamese authorities had abused their power by the confiscation of quantities of rice which had been seized to ensure themselves against the threatened famine, and, owing to their thought for the evils of the future, were a prey to the evils of the present. Food was unobtainable at any price, and the poor people awaited death to put an end to their sufferings. An epidemic more deadly still caused fresh ravages. The streets and public places were strewn with corpses, which were devoured by ravenous pariahs, as the fear of contagion had prevented their burial. This scourge came only to an end with the ruin of the country. The sentinels let themselves down from the walls by ropes and preferred to risk falling into the hands of the enemy than to await a lingering death in the midst of suffering. The Burmese turned their arms against the Dutch compound, which was defended by the Portuguese and Chinese. The attack was fierce and the defence, stubborn. But finally the compound was taken and reduced to ashes after an eight days' siege marked by many casualties. The church was respected for two or three days and the missionaries were able to collect together their property. This show of moderation was merely a trick to force the surrender of the Bishop and his flock. The Burmese leader was unwilling to shed blood to no purpose. He assured him that if he would surrender, all his property would be respected and that only the weapons would be taken.