LITEBATURE OF THE BURMAS. 187 



*' tliree ranks of Nat. All these habitations are 

 *' parallel planes extendint^ to the perpendicular of 

 *' Zelchiavula. Above the bons of the JVai are those 

 *' of the sixteen Rupa, which are thus disposed: — ■ 

 ^' Five hundred and fifty-eight Xhowsdind juzana 

 " above the highest habitation of the Nat, are three 

 " habitations of iiL//'/;a, lying in the same plane, in 

 *' the form of an equilateral triangle; each habita- 

 *' tion being distant from the others 55^,000 juzana: 

 *' the Ri(pa, that dwell here, are called the first 

 " ZUdi. At the same perpendicular distance of 

 " 55S, 000 juzana, are three other habitations of 

 *^ Rupa, in the same form and disposition; and the 

 " Rupa which occupy them, are called the second 

 ^' Zian. In a like manner, 55b, 000 J uzana shove 

 " these, lie three other habitations, whose inhabi- 

 *' tants are called /the third Zian, Above these also 

 *' 55H, 000 J uzana, lie, in the same plane, the two bon 

 * ' of the fourth Zian. The other five bon of the Rupa, 

 *' are placed one above another, at the mutual 

 " distance o^ 55'6^000ji(zana. And also, one above 

 *' the other, and at the same distance, are disposed 

 *' the four habitations of A rupa, or incorporeal be- 

 " ings. Such is the distance from the highest 

 *' dwellings of these Arupa to this our earth, say the 

 *' Bu,*ina doctors, that a rock thrown from it would 

 '' take four years to reach the ground: but I doubt, 

 ♦' says the missionary, if this be conformable to our 

 ^'observations on accelerated motion." 



'•XIV. Let us next relate the happiness, and 

 " length of life, of the first kind oi' Nat called Za- 

 " diimaharit. The government of this habitation is 

 ^' divided among four kings, or princes of the genii. 

 " The capital city of the hrst is situated to the east 

 " oi' Mieumo, ow ihe ■summit o^ J ngando. It extends, 

 " in length and breadth, \, 000 juzana. When we 

 ' ' speak of the capital of the Nat Tavateinza, we 

 " shall have an opportunity of describing the gates, 

 " ways, and other things belonging to this superb 

 *' city; as they are the same in both. The palace of 

 * ' this king e:jitends twenty-five jiizam in every di- 

 rection, 



