LANGUAGES OF THE BURMA EMPIRE. 223 



tokich, although not the only organ of fpeech, is yet 

 of fuch ufe in articulation, as to he commonly confi- 

 dered as fuch. Hence it is, that an indiftincl articu- 

 lation has become fafhionable, even when the tongue 

 is at liberty. 



I mall begin with the Burma language as being at 

 prefent the molt prevalent. There are four dialects of 

 it, that of the Burma proper, that of Ardkah, that of 

 the Yoy and that of Tenaferim. 



The people called by us Burmas, Barmas, Vermas, 

 Brimmas, &c. ftile themfelves Myammaiv. By the peo- 

 ple of Pegu, they are named Pummay ; by the Karaya i 

 Yoo ; by the people of Cuffay, Awaw ; by the Cujfay 

 Amu, Kammau ; by the Chinefe of Younan, Lawmen ; 

 and by the Aykobat^ Anwa. They efteem themfelves 

 to be defcended from the people of Arakan, whom they 

 often call Myammaw gyee, that is to fay, great Burmas. 



The proper natives of Arakan, call themfelves 

 Yakain, which name is alio commonly given to them 

 by the Burmas, By the people of Pegu they are named 

 Takain. By the Bengal Hindus, at leal! by fuch of 

 them as have been fettled in Arakan, the country is 

 called Rojfawn, from whence, I fuppofe, Mr. Rex- 

 nell has been induced to make a country named 

 RoJJiazvn occupy part of his map, not conceiving' that 

 it would be Arakan, or the kingdom of the Mugs, as 

 we often call it. Whence this name of Mug, given by 

 Europeans to the natives of Arakan, has been derived, 

 I know not ; but, as far as I could learn, it is totally 

 unknown to the natives and their neighbours, except 

 fuch of them as by their intercourle with us have 

 learned its ufe. The Mahommedans fettled at Arakan, 

 call the country Roviugaiv, the Perjians call it Re 



O 4 The 



