1^6 • OST THE RELIGION AND 



rence from the drawings, both in the figure, and in 

 the number of ftars: but I have, in both cafes, foU 

 lowed the originals, not knowing which is right. Some 

 of the figures, refembling a rofe, feem to reprefent 

 planets, and are faid to prefide over fome day of the 

 week, or fome time of the day. To the other figures 

 are in general annexed certain cities, or countries: 

 and the Burmas fuppofe, that, when a conllellation 

 appears bright, its dependant country is fruitful and 

 happy: and that the contrary is indicated by the con- 

 ftellation appearing dim. Of many of thefe countries 

 I have never heard, nor could I obtain any informa- 

 tion concerning their fituation: but feveral of them are 

 in the Burma empire, or in its vicinity. Unfortu- 

 nately, the copy of the Afiatick Refearches, which I 

 confulted, had not the figures of the Brahmenical con- 

 ftellations, to which Sir William Joxes refers, fo 

 that I can make no comparifon but by the name. 



TRANSLATION OF THE WRITTEN ACCOUNT 

 OF THE BURMA CONSTELLATIONS. 



1. "Of Sunday the Star." 



2. '' The Tyain conftellation five circles has, of 



" Thoiikkada country the conllellation." Pyain 

 is the fmall fpecics of white heron, common irt 

 India, and called, by the Erigli/Ji there, paddy- 

 bird* The circles means ftars, as they are fo re- 

 prefented in the delineations, a cuftom evidently 

 introduced from China. Thoukkada is a govern- 

 ment and city in Siam, named by M. Loubere 

 Socotai. 



3. " Rcwade an alligator's figure has, Kutheinnaroun 



" country, and nine circles it has.'.' This is evi- 

 dently the fame name with the Rcvati of Sir 

 William Jones, which has thirty-two ftars. 

 Rewade fignifies large water. From the letters 

 with which Kutheinnaroun are written, it is evi- 

 dently a Pall or Sanfcrit word, and is probably 

 fome place in Bengal, 4. " Ultara- 



