]68 On the religion anp 



" four rafoen are equal to 400 ta, or 2,800 cubits*, 

 " Again, the Burma v/ritings reckon twelve hairs 

 ^' equal to one grain of rice, four grains of rice equal 

 " to one finger, twelve fingers equal to one foot, 

 " and the common stature of a man is seven feet or 

 " four cubits." 



These measures, it is to be observed, are not in 

 use among the Burmas : but have been introduced 

 from India along \vith their books, 



'' II. The time in which the forefinger, when 

 " drav/n back from the thumb, will recover its pro- 

 " per position, is called charasi, which may be 

 *' translated a second: ten charaM make one pia?i, 

 ■' six pian one bizana, or minute, sixty bizana one 

 " hour, sixty hours one day, thirty days one month, 

 •' twelve months one year." 



Such Is the account of the Bunna measurement 

 of time gi\'en by the missionary : but it is by no 

 means complete. More accurate divisions have taken 

 place, in a great measure, I apprehend, owing to 

 the introduction of the Brahmens. The RdhdJis or 

 priests of Godama being entirely prohibited from 

 the study of astrology, and the people being much 

 addicted to divination of all kipds, the Brahmens 

 have taken advantage of their crediilitv, and all over 

 India beyond tiieGV/A'^>T.y have established themselves 

 in considerable numbers. We are not however to 

 conceive, that they have any concern in the religion 

 of these countries: they are merely employed about 

 the courts, and in the houses of the great, as the 

 Chaldeans were about the kings of Persia, as sooth-: 

 payers and wise men. These B'i'ahmens yearly com- 

 pos® 



* Th? Burma league is 7,000 cubits: accordingly the /azaa^ con- 

 tains 44,800 cubit., or is nearly twelve miles. Thejo;V^;/i/ oi Hm. 

 dri:-t(iti, according to Sir William Jonks ^^i/«//V/{' Researches, IV, 

 157) is four and a half G. miles. According to Mr. Chambers 

 i' 4uattck Researches, I, \bb) it is from nin-z to twelve miles. 



