2j2 OS THE LANGUAGES AXD LITERATURE 



four long syllables, but admits occasionally of one or 

 more intercalary short ones : the Jdni which consists 

 of five syllables, the Cho-bang of six, the Pafhamang 

 of seven, the Jemntd of eight, are also frequently 

 employed. 



The follownng specimen of T'hay, is taken from 

 the beginning of the Maha Chinok, a work in which 

 the greater part of these are introduced. 



DESCRIPTION OF MAITIIILA. 



Jang mi muung nung Lok'ha-ma k'hai 



Jay kwang trahung Wanit t'hang lai 



Chu Mit t'bin 11 Chai rua pai nia 



Thlw p'hu suwoi ral^ Bo mi satru 



Krop krong para Bibiin pracha 



Song nam maha Prat'het nana 



Cliinok p'homi Jom ma thuk miiung 



Som det p'homi Chin, Cham, Pram, Law 



Krong se narat Ming-mon, Tin-naw 



Pin cha nan ma Map mai nong niiung 



Bo mi an arai P'harang phang-ka 



Ke rat pracha Ma kha t'huk muung 



Thaw krong para Kkek mon nong nuving 



Pin chaw p'hen din Ma muung ka kai 



K'haw mak pla-t'hok Kuia P'hrang-s<^t 



Bomi p'hai rok Ciiin Cham Pram-T'het 



Bibiin p'ho min Chong sakk Nalay 



Pinsuk ka priam pri Jipun Chinho 



Muung Pra Narin Aw sin ma k'hai 



Thaw krong p'hen din Ni nun lua lay 

 Suka seni pra cha 



" There was a certain country, powerful and' of great extent, termed 

 Xfithinla CMaifhila). In this country a certain Rajah exercised the 

 sovereign authority, named Maha Chinok, (Janaka), overshadowing 

 his people like the spreading banian tree. For a long series of years, 

 he ruled this country, while none was able to injure it, or subject it to 

 foreign authority. Rice was abundant, and of a cheap price : no disease 

 prevailed, and no discontent against the sovereign, and the inhabitants 

 enjoyed every pleasure, as in the region of Pra- i\arayen. The 

 sovereign of tJie country diffused joy over the face of tlie land, among 



