213 



NOTE TO CHAPTER Y. 



STORY OF THE DESTRUCTIOX OF THE SACRED TOOTH. 



Translated from the Poi-tiigiiese of Diego de Couto, Asia, ^-c. 

 Decade vii. lib. ix. ch. 2, &c. 



After describing the siege and reduction of Jaffna, in 1560, 

 by the viceroy Don Constantine de Braganza, in the 2nd 

 chapter of the vii. decade, book ix., the narrative proceeds as 



follows : — 



*«**♦#♦ 



"Amongst the spoils of the principal temple they brought 

 to the viceroy a tooth mounted in gold, which was generally 

 said to be the tooth of an ape, but which these idolaters regarded 

 as the most sacred of all objects of adoration. The Viceroy 

 was immediately made aware that its value was inestimable, as 

 the natives would be sure to offer vast sums to redeem it. 

 They believed it to be the tooth of their great saint Buddha. 

 This Buddha, so runs their legend, after visiting Ceylon, tra- 

 velled over Pegu and the adjacent countries, converting the 

 heathen and working miracles; and, death approaching, he 

 wrenched this tooth from its socket, and sent it to Cejdon as the 

 greatest of relics. So highly was it venerated, by the Singhalese 

 and by all the people of Pegu, that they esteemed it above all 

 other treasures." * * ♦ # * 



CHAP. XVII. 



How the Kmg of Pegu sent to offer a sum of gold to the Viceroy 

 Don Constantine for the ape^s tooth, which was taken atJaf- 

 na-jpatam, and of the decision of the divines thereupon, and 

 how it luas resolved to destroy it by fire. 



" Martin Alfonso de Mello happened to be in Pegu with his 

 ship on business, when the Viceroy, Don Constantine, returned 

 (to Goa) from Jaffna-patam, and the king, hearing that the 

 * tooth' which was so profoundly revered by all Buddhists had 

 been carried off, summoned Martin Alfonso to his presence, and 

 besought him, on his return to India, to entreat the Viceroy to 

 surrender it, offering to give in exchange whatever might be 



V 3 



