﻿502 ox THE BURMHA, SCC. 



king, uhich word is often used in playing, to cau- 

 tion the king against danger. Hence Kuropeans 

 and others have denominated the game Shachiludium 

 and ShaUiidiiim', and the Enghsh Chess.''' 



The term Mace used at tlie termination of the 

 game is from the Persian shah-mat, the king is 

 concjuertd or driven to the last dL-stress. 



The Persians also have a term peculiar to them- 

 selves, to denote tlie advancement of a pawn ot piada. 

 "When it arrives at tlie last line of checks in the ad- 

 versary's division, they say it is Jerzeen or dis- 

 tinguished, and in case the z'izeer or Jo^z has heen 

 lost, it assmnes its rank, and is distmguishtd by 

 one of the adversary's pawns being placed on the 

 same square with it. 



When I sat down to write this letter, I had no 

 idea of extending it to so great a length., nor Had I, 

 as you will easily perceive, formed any regular plan 

 of discussion. I therefore fear it will not only be 

 found tedious, but perplexed. Yet, however imper- 

 fect or unimportant in itself, I am induced to hope 

 it will be received with indulgence, as tending to 

 excite the incjuiries of abler critics on a subject 

 ecjually interesting and curious, and to produce that 

 eoiiision of mind whence truth is elicited. 



I have the honour to remain, 



Dear Sir, 



Your obliged and faithful servant, 



HIRAM COX. 



IVaujea Province of Chiiiagofig, May 2Sthy 1799. 



P. S. I h-ave annexed a comparative Table of the 

 iiauies and tcims used at the tiame of Chess in lour 

 principal Asiatic, and lour principal European 



languages. 



H. COX. 



