LITEBATURE- Of- THE BURSrAS. lf)l 



upper or lower path, witli mucli injury both to the 

 produce of tlie earth, and the health of the peo- 

 ple. The sun's nation is quicker than that of tlie 

 moon ; for when he movesin the road next Miemno, 

 he advances daily \, ^00, OQO juzana ; when in the 

 middle road, 2,000,0()() ; and when in the outer, 

 3,000,000 juzajia. On account of this diurnal 

 revolution of the sun, when in the southern island 

 ZabucUba it is mid-day, then in the northern it is 

 mid-night, in the eastern island the sun sets, and 

 in the western it rises. 



" Although the sun, moon, and stars, appear to 

 our eyes round, yet, say the Burmas, we are by 

 no means to believe them spheres: for they are 

 tapering, and appear round to us, in the same 

 manner as does the light of a candle when viewed 

 from a distance ; and this the Burma doctors 

 think confirmed by an example related in their 

 books: — Formerly a prince of the Nat desired to 

 see and converse Avith a certain great kina* of this 

 island Zabiidiba, who by his many virtues had be- 

 come highly celebrated. For this purpose the 

 prince sent his chardot, with many A'rtif attendants, 

 to conduct the king to his presence. The chariot 

 appeared to mankind in the beginning of the 

 evening along with the moon then rising in the 

 horizon, and was supposed by t\^\y one to be 

 another moon, till it came near to the palace of 

 the king." 



*' XVI. Before we finish our account of the 

 Burma astronomy, some other circumstances, re- 

 lating to this science, and to meteorology, may 

 be mentioned. 



" It has been already stated, that the Burma 

 writings admit of an eighth planet, named 7?«/zz^', 

 which gives no light, and on this account is not 

 visible to mankind. The form of Rahu is thus 

 described. His stature is A:'6, 000 juzana : the 

 breadth of his breast 12,000, of his head 900, of 

 his forehead, his nostrils and mouth 300, the 

 thickness of his fingers 50 juzana; of his feet and 



'•' hands 



