Ordination of a Burmese Priest of Bubp’ ua. 273 
«‘ yants and slaves, guards and protectors: these grant me; and grant me 
<< also a good reputation (or the quality of inspiring respect). Fill me 
‘ with all these; and after death let me reach that place, where I may 
«¢ hear the law of the Creator: thus, old I shall not become, nor sick; nor 
‘ shall I die, but shall exist unto eternity.” 
First, a teacher (or priest) of advanced age must be sought for; and 
after he is found, the ¢habike,° and thanegan,™) and the rest of the 
eight things necessary must be obtained ; and these are the eight things : 
a thabike, thanegan, folded leather,(?) a water-strainer, a fan, a razor, 
three needles, and a broom. After having procured these things, it is 
necessary to go to the presence of the teacher advanced in years, and thus 
address him: “ Oh, my Lord, admit me to the noviciate of the priesthood ; 
I will adhere to the ‘Ten Ordinances.’” ‘To which the teacher answers, 
«* Good, you may enter the noviciate: you must not take away life; you 
must not steal; you must lead a life of perfect celibacy ; you must not 
speak that which is untrue, nor make use of abusive words or coarse uncivil 
- 
language, nor jests; and you must not sow dissention among friends; any 
thing of inebriating quality you must not use; after the sun has gained the 
meridian, you must not eat; you must not listen to music, nor look on at 
feasts or dancing; you must not wear flowers or use perfumes; you must 
not sleep on a high couch or soft bed; you must not possess gold or silver, 
nor even touch them: that you transgress not these ten rules you must 
carefully watch.” Thus must the teacher direct; and the novice must say, 
“Good, my Lord, I am willing.” 
Again, at the time he wishes to become a rhahdn, he must prepare a 
large thanegan,“) and it must be four cubits broad, and six cubits and 
two mike 4) long, made of nine pieces, and sewn together with fifty-four 
double seams ; and after it is sewn it must be washed, and afterwards dyed 
with the wood () of the jack-tree, cut into small pieces and boiled in water ; 
afterwards the dyed thanegan must be wetted with the juice of the leaves 
of the dowkyat.(®) After this a thabike, and the rest of the eight things 
necessary (like as was ordered for the noviciate, a fresh supply of these), 
must be procured and kept ready; and the novice must then go to the 
presence of an aged teacher, well acquainted with the sacred writings, and 
along with him he must solicit the attendance of twenty other priests, and 
they must then go to the ¢hyne.0”) 
Having reached the thyne, the person about to be made a priest, must 
2NQ 
