COCOA-NUT TREE. 301 



steadily for some moments ; after which, the 

 animal, extending its blue forked tongue, and 

 thrice bowing its head, lapped water from the 

 leaf in which it had been reserved for the rajah's 

 particular use. Having thrice repeated the 

 draught, the animal, still keeping its eyes fixed 

 on the rajah, gradually retired to the jungle. 

 This was conviction itself of Budhoo's* favour. 



Again the prince felt his eyelids grow weary ; 

 but, in his then state of disease, he had deter- 

 mined to occupy no place of shelter save that 

 which the shady Bogaha, (Ficus religiosa,) the 

 tree under which he reposed, afforded him. No 

 sooner had sleep a second time exerted its magic 

 influence, than his former vision recurred, with 

 the additional appearance of an aged man, whose 

 face bore the appearance of the moon in all its 

 splendour. It was Maha Sudona, the father of 

 the god Budhoo,t who stood before the astounded 

 rajah, and thus accosted him :■ — 



" From ignorance of the sacredness of the 

 ground over which the god's favourite tree casts 



* Supposed to be derived from a Tamul word, bodhi, 

 which signifies wisdom. The present object of Singalese 

 worship is the fourth Budhoo, called Goutama Budha Arka- 

 bandoo, or descendant from the sun. 



t Considered by many learned Indians an incarnation of 

 Vishnu, and his religion to be founded on that of Brahma. 



