﻿408 ON THE RELIGION ANP MANNERS 



must be about nine thousand ; but the Singale.%e 

 books make it but seven thousand, which cannot be 

 the case, geometrically, even supposing a triangle 

 carried to its extreme length. But arithmetically, 

 seven and three are ten, which is all that is necessary 

 to satisfy the Boudhists of the present day. The in- 

 habitants of * Giamhii, our earth, have a triaugular 

 head, which, however paradoxical it may appear, is 

 clearly proved by the learned Singalese to be the 

 case, by lines which they trace on their own faces. 

 Giiimbu is situated to the north of the system ; 

 around it are five hundred islands, one of which, 

 Lanlie^ is the island of Ceijlon. This island is 

 guarded by four great gods; before, by Vishnu; 

 behind, on Adam's peak, by Saman : Rande Kou- 

 MAREA, or Katiiegam, is ou the right, and Ay e- 

 NAiKE o\\ the left. The fore j/art, accordinL>; to ihe 

 Singalese, is De-undere, the hind part Adam's peak; 

 on the right lies the pagoda of Katuegam, and on 

 tlie left Futaland. Vishnu has placed them thus. 

 Apregodami is a country of a round shape, inhabited 

 by men with round faces like the full moon, and by 

 spirits of a particular description that are to be found 

 no where else. It is situated in the east, is seven 

 thousand ?/o^z^?z5 in circumference, v/jth five hundred 

 islands round it. Utiirukuni-divdne is in the south, 

 of a square form ; its inhabitants have square faces, 

 they live there five hundred years, and there are five 

 hundred little islands round it. As we have one day 

 the prospect of being in one or other of these coun- 

 tries, the ladies, who may be shocked at the idea of 

 having triangular faces, have at least the consolation 

 to be able to choose in their next transmigration be- 

 twixt square faces, full moons, or half moons. 



The system of the world, or of the parts com- 

 posing the world, M'hich we have just described, is, 

 called Sakwelie. On the Maha Meru Pargxvette 



are 



• Giamhu Dwijie is as Zabudiba at Jva, G'lamhu is a tree, (Eu^ 

 gfnia.J 



