'OF THE INDO-CHINESE NATIONS. ^51 



Siun-phansit, a book of moral instructions. Prang- 

 fhong relates the adventures of the persons who 

 went to the land of the Rakshasas in search of the 

 ftuit Prang fhong, for which a certain princess had 

 longed when pregnant, the obtaining of the fruit on 

 condition that the child of which the princess was 

 pregnant should be presented to the Rakshasa, the 

 carrying off of the child by the Rakshasa, and her 

 return to her parents when grown up. The Liik- 

 sua-ko relates the friendship between the tyger and 

 the bull, and their being afterwards metamorphosed 

 into men by a certain Rishi. Paja-p'hali relates the 

 adventures of Vali, the brother of Sugriva'. The 

 Hoi Sang relates tlie adventures of the prince who 

 was born in a chank shell, and remained in it till he 

 arrived at maturity. The Sang-sin-chay is the account 

 of a hero who was born with a chank and an arrow 

 in his hand, with which, and mounted on a lion, he 

 accomplished many adventures among the Rakshasas 

 and Girgasis, Yakshas or Yak, as they are termed by 

 the Siamese. The JVoraniit relates tlie adventures of 

 the twin brothers Wok a nut and Worane't. Nang" 

 uthay relates the adventures of a Naga princess, who 

 was carried off by a Rajah. Some ot these fictions; 

 exhibit a wild and singular style of fabling, with 

 which we are little acquainted, but the greater part 

 are obviously derived from the Sanscrit, throuo-h the 

 Bali. 



The Tliay exhibits considerable variety of mea- 

 sures, in composition, and frequently iutroduces seve- 

 ral of them in the same work, in the same manner as 

 is frequently done in Brijh, Punjabi, and Sikli com- 

 positions. The most frequent measure, however, 

 among the Thay, as among the Ruk'hSng and Barma, 

 seems to be that denominated rap, which consists of 



