Captain James Low on Bupp HA and the Phrabat. 79 
No. 17. 
In the drawing of the Phrabdt will be found the Satt,ha Maha K hangka, 
the seven great rivers, the Siamese Ménam Yai Chet, which lie betwixt the 
seven ranges of hills above described. These rivers correspond in width to 
that of each range nearest to them on the Meru side. Sangermano’s 
account is incorrect, in making the first range 84,000 yojana high. This 
number belongs to the great central mountain. 
Around this fabled mountain, and in the direction of the four cardinal 
points, are the four Dwipas, to be noticed hereafter. Above are the abodes 
of the blessed, crowned by the indefinable mansions of the Loka: around 
the upper part of Meru, the sun, moon, and planets perform their revolu- 
tions. Inpra occupies the summit, with his bright palaces and city, and 
host of Dévatas. Below the foundation of Méru, and underneath the waters, 
is the kingdom of the mighty Naca, or king of snakes, on whose right 
hand sits K nanck Ha Nani, the goddess of waters; and on his left, Baummé 
NaAnr, the goddess of earth: lastly, beneath all, is Naraka, or hell. 
With all these we must proceed in their order. 
No. 18. 
First, Cha Kama Wachara. The first six mansions, including the habitations 
of mortals. Leaving the latter for the present, we proceed to the description 
of the twenty-two superior mansions, with their inhabitants. 
First, Chatu Maha Rachéka. To each of the descriptions in the Bali of 
these heavens is added the following sentence, intended to be used as a sort 
of chorus: “ T\hewa satt,ha manutsa wesong. T hewanang satt,ang suttana.” 
In this heaven the spirits or dewatas live or remain 500 years. They 
visit their consorts 9,000,000 times, obeying the same laws of generation as 
mankind.* 
The Siamese, as well as the Burmese,t+ suppose that the sun, moon, and 
stars revolve round Meru in circles, the planes of which are parallel to the 
earth, or form angles with it. The stars, they imagine, to be constant in 
their motions, while the sun and moon have a declination; that the sun 
goes from north to south, and in the contrary direction back, from south to 
* But (as Dr. Buchanan has observed, citing Sangermano’s translation respecting the Burman 
Zadumaharit), with this exception, that in coitu non semen, sed solum era vel ventum emittunt. 
+ Vide Sangermano’s account given by Dr. Buchanan. Asiatic Researches, vol. vi. 
