Chap. V.] STORY OF THE TOOTH. 219 



an effort on the part of the monarchs of Christendom to rescue 

 them as king Brama made to gain possession of this tooth of 

 Satan, or rather of a stag. He immediately despatched the 

 same ambassadors and talapoens in quest of it, and sent extra- 

 ordinary presents by them to the king of Ceylon, with promises 

 of others still more costly. The ambassadors reached Colombo, 

 negotiated secretly with Don Juan, who placed the tooth with 

 its shrine in their hands with much solemnity and secrecy, and 

 Avith it they took their departure in the same vessel in which 

 they had arrived." 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Of the magnificence and splendour witlt tvhich this tooth luas 

 received in Pegu. 



" In a few days they drew near to Cosmi, a port of Pegu, whence 

 the news spread quickly, the priesthood (talapoens) assembled, 

 and the people crowded devoutly to offer adoration to the tooth. 

 For its landing they collected vast numbers of rafts elaborately 

 and richly ornamented, and when they came to carry the 

 accursed tooth on shore it rested on gold and silver and other 

 costly rarities. Intelligence was instantly sent to Brama to 

 Pegu, who despatched all his nobles to assist at its reception, 

 and he superintended in person the preparation of a place in 

 which the relic was to be deposited. In the arrangements for 

 this he displayed to the utmost all the resom-ces and wealth at 

 his command. In this state the tooth made the ascent of the 

 river, which was covered with rich boats encircling the structure, 

 imder which rested the shrine, so illuminated that it vied with the 

 brightness of day. 



" The king, when all was prepared, seated himself in a boat 

 decorated with gilding and brocaded silks ; he set out two days 

 in advance to meet the procession, and on coming in sight of it 

 he retired into the cabin of his galley, bathed, sprinkled himself 

 with perfumes, assumed his most costly dress, and on touching 



