78 Captain Jaurzs Low on Buppa and the Phrabdt. 
the Meru of orthodox Hindus, with its three peaks and its seven steps, 
seems to compose the whole world. The supporters of the Meru of the 
Siamese may be the Triciéta of the Hindus. Maurice supposed that the 
seven ranges of hills were the seven purifying spheres, the sidereal ladder, 
and the seven gates of scripture. 
The Hindu Jeru is conical ; that of the Siamese, as well as that of the 
Buddhists in general, is of a shape more or less square, compared by Wilford 
to the Tower of Babel. This was of a square form, and had seven stages 
like Meru, according to the Asiatic Researches.* It is the type of the 
Linga, the Earth, the Yoni, and the Lotos.+ The Buddhists of India make 
Meru to have eight steps; and while the Siamese place Jambu Dwipa, or 
the habitable part of the world, outside of A/eru, the Indian Buddhists 
place it inside. The Siamese consider it as the world we inhabit. 
Jambu signifies India also ; and is stated by the authority, above quoted, 
to be the Sabha of the Puranas, or the place where the principal Dévatas 
are supposed to reside. 
According to the Milinda, the Bali compendium of Buddhist learning, 
the world, in the centre of which is Meru, is in length and breadth, each, 
1,203,450 yojana ; and its circumference is thrice that number. 
There is here an approach to the relative proportion betwixt the diameter 
and circumference. It is evident from the work in question, that the earth 
was considered a round body. But a Buddhist priest of Ceylon, whom I 
tried to convince of this fact, strenuously opposed it; although, otherwise 
learned in his own peculiar system.t 
* Vol. viii. p. 260, + Asiatic Researches, vol. viii. p. 260. 
{ The earth is stated to be, in thickness s iE 240,000 yojana. 
The water under it .. 24) Sa a + 480,000 ditto. 
The air below that .. =f “3 + a 960,000 ditto. 
Sumeru or Meru is, in height he vl 84,000 ditto. 
Ist. YokAunthara, the first hill, is in height ve 42,000 ditto. 
2d. Isinthara, the second ditto, ditto .. ft 21,000 ditto. 
3d. Karawéka nse a ditto .. A 10,500 ditto. 
Ath. The hill Sudhatsana .. ditto .. a 5,250 ditto. 
5th. Ditto Niméthara .. ditto .. Wi 2,625 ditto. 
6th. Ditto Wimantaka .. ditto .. es 1,312 ditto. 
7th. Ditto Atsakéna on ditto 656 ditto. 
The ranges of Meru have been supposed to septal Sicaitéte of latitude; and hence the 
Jainas make the outermost largest. 
