Ordination of a Burmese Priest of Bupv’ xa. 281 
is made, and the gilding laid on, the leaf is afterwards rubbed with a wet cloth; and on 
account of there being a mixture of yellow orpiment in the ink, the gilding does not 
adhere closely to the whole surface, but readily parts from the writing and lets it appear. 
It does not seem as if the leaves of this book * were made from two pieces joined ; it is 
more probable that, as it was to be a royal offering, leaves of the largest size were 
sought for to make it up from. A tree that bears such is ‘‘one of a thousand;” and 
the people have a saying, that for every one of this kind that is found a man learned 
in the sacred writings also appears. ‘These trees, also, are royalties. 
(2) This writing was offered by Sane-pyoo-suane, the third of the Alown Purra 
(Alompra) dynasty, and second son of its founder. The dedication appears, both at the 
beginning and end of the book, in handsome gilt characters. This king ascended the 
throne in the year 1134 of the era of Gaupama, and died in 1138; the present year, 
A.D. 1827, is 1188 of that era: the book must therefore be at least fifty years old. 
(3) The title consists of fifteen syllables, or rather Pali words. This is one of the 
longest that a king can have; the heir apparent may have twelve or thirteen: but it 
does not entirely depend on the will of the party how many syllables he may have, but 
on the number out of the “ ten virtues” that he possesses. This king, with the title of 
fifteen syllables, took more it is said than he deserved, and therefore his reign was but 
short. Some king, a long while ago, in Ceylon, took a title of twenty-one words at the 
time he had reigned seven years; but after this act of presumption he lived to enjoy 
his honours only seven days. It is not lawful to translate the title of the king. The 
number of words in a title forms a gradation of rank. Persons may not assume place 
with those who have longer titles than themselves: if they do, the party intruded on 
may cut (with his knife, the sitting part of) the intruder. 
(4) This is the translation of the name of a pagoda of large size in the city of Ava. 
The occasion of its construction was as follows :—Upon ascending the throne, the king 
gave to his four younger brothers employment in the government, and built palaces for 
them near his own, at the four cardinal points. The three younger of these brothers 
conspired against their eldest brother and sovereign to put him to death; their excuse 
for which was, that he had constituted his own son heir-apparent in contravention of 
the dying commands of Atompra, who had directed that Ais sons should succeed to the 
throne, according to their seniority ; asserting, moreover, that SANE-PYoo-SHANE was 
not entitled to reign, having been born whilst their father was yet a man of low estate; 
but that they were the lawful heirs, being the sons of the king. The remaining brother, 
Mown-wine (grandfather of the present king), having also been born before their 
father became a king, was not admitted to the conspiracy. The conspiracy failed, and 
their lives were of course forfeited; but the king spared them, and built the pagoda in 
question to commemorate the circumstance: two of them, however, were afterwards put 
* The book in question belonged to Mr. Hewarn, of Madras, and was intended for Sir C. Grey, Great numbers 
having been found inthe monasteries during the Burman war, it is probable that many were taken to England. 
Some were made of large plates of ivory. 
202 
