between the Southern Part of' Bengal and Ava. 207 



represented in the temples of Ava. By the priest, however, 

 they were said to he representations of that personage. They 

 were placed on a stage adorned with silver, and with paper 

 ornaments ; and before the stage was a high iron lamp. 



In one of the apartments of the convent the priest had 

 slaves, both male and female. These were said to be nume- 

 rous, and to be procured by advancing money for people who 

 had fallen into distressed circumstances. These slaves were 

 employed both as domestics and in the cultivation of the land ; 

 for the priests here never go out to beg like those of Ava, and 

 although they receive contributions from the pious, do not 

 choose to trust entirely to such for their subsistence. Among 

 the slaves of the priest were three girls very desirous to change 

 masters, nor was he unwilling to part with them, had I been 

 inclined to pay the sum for which they stood indebted. Their 

 levity and want of industry, and the priest's gravity and de- 

 sire of gain, made both parties desirous of separating, nor did 

 a separation from their relations, religion, and customs, seem 

 any bar. 



The chief priest was an intelligent man. He said that in 

 the convent there was another Poungri, and a boy six years 

 old, who was instructing in the duties of the priesthood, for 

 which he was intended. Although not yet admitted into or- 

 ders, he wore a yellow dress, which is contrary to the rules 

 observed at Ava, and to the precepts of the Kammua or book 

 of ordination ; but perhaps the Rakhain edition of this book 

 differs from that used in Ava ; as I found that there existed 

 many differences in the religious doctrines of the two people. 



Among other doctrines which the Italians of Ava would 

 consider heretical, this priest acknowledged Brahma, or a su- 

 preme being, and that this author of nature had given a dif- 

 ferent religion to each of the one hundred and one nations of 

 the earth. He believed in the same Munis or lawgivers, that 

 the priests of Ava allege to have appeared on earth, namely, 

 Chaucasum, Gonagom, Gaspa, (Kasiyapa,) and Godama, 

 (Gautama;) but to these he added a fifth, named Maha Mu- 

 ni. These priests are possessed of books said to contain the 

 doctrine of the two last Munis only, and to them alone they 

 address their prayers, as they have no formula by which they 



