280 Mr. Knox on the Ceremonial of the 
advantage will arise?’ Then they answer, and say: ‘“ The advantage pro- 
mised in the sacred writings.”@ « Therefore let the priest put on the 
clothes, and let him not put them off nor change them, from the full of 
the moon Tazownmown to the full of the moon Tabown (four months), and 
let him not be ashamed of so doing, and let him eat but once a day, and 
let him reside in a place where there is nothing to attract the eye or ear, 
and let him reflect on the thirty-two elements of which his body is com- 
posed (blood, bones, flesh, &c.), then at night let him repair to a burying- 
ground, apart from where men pass to and fro, and there let him reflect on 
the forty circumstances of mortal dissolution (ée. he is to reflect on the 
difference between man in his strength and comeliness, and man deceased 
and resolving into his component elements) ; and before daylight again, let 
him take his ¢habike and proceed to collect food from house to house, 
standing before the door of each (ie. take the food, if offered; if not 
offered, he must remain fasting); then let him go to a secluded spot and 
eat, reflecting on the hundred and eighteen qualities of the body (as to what 
agrees with and is suitable for it, and the reverse).” 
After this he puts on the garment, and makes obeisance to the other 
priests. 
He who does this is not to eat with the rest, but to keep himself 
secluded. 
NOTES. 
(1) This is a writing in the Pali language and character, and relates to the instalment 
of persons into the priesthood, their probationary course for it, and prescribed line of 
conduct after admission. To get at its meaning it was necessary for the original to 
undergo several transformations; first, from the pure Pali into a mixture of Pali and 
Burman, then into pure Burman,* and from that it was taken down verbally in a sort 
of English, resembling Burman in its inverted structure, before being brought into its 
present form. 
The leaves of books of this kind are mostly made from the leaves of a large species of 
palmyra ; but these being seldom broad enough, are artfully joined in the middle length- 
wise, sewn together with silk, and lackered over. On the lackered surface the writing 
* Which was done by a learned native. 
