LITERATURE OF THE BURMAS. 



231 



" many other animals not to be found near the habi- 

 " tations of man. Of thefe lakes the moft celebrated 

 " is called Anaudat*, which is furrounded by five 

 " mountains. Thefe mountains, which are five 

 " hundred juznna high, incline their lofty fummits 

 '• over the lake, and prevent the fun's rays from 

 *' reaching its waters, except for a fhort fpace annually, 

 " when the fun is in the inner road. 



*' The bowels of one of thefe mountains contain 

 " moft copious mines of gold, and even its furface is 

 *' thickly covered by that precious metal. The furface 

 " of the fecond mountain is covered with filver, and 

 ^' it contains alfo rich lilver mines. The third contains 

 *' mines of diamonds and rubies, and thefe ftones 

 '' glitter on its furface. The fourth of thefe moun- 

 " tains is alfo impregnated with all manner of jewels;' 

 ^' and the fifth is covered with fandal-wood, clove 

 *• and nutmeg trees. In this aromatic mountain are 

 *' three arched habitations; one of gold, another of 

 "filver, and a third of carbuncle j and before thefe 

 " abodes grows a flowering tree one juzana high* 

 *' In this delightful place dwell certain hermits, and 

 *' men of eminent fanctity and morality, who appear 

 *' in this world when the law of any god ceafes. For 

 " the Burma writings declare, that when a god appears, 

 " and reveals his law, men are only bound to obferve 

 *' it for a fixed number of years after his death, at the 

 *' expiration of which time every one is at liberty to 

 *' follow the law of nature. Such is the brightnefs 

 " proceeding from thefe mountains, that it excludes 

 *' the darknefs of night. 



*' The water of Anaudat is limpid like cryflal, nor 

 *' does any foul thing live on its fliores. Neither turtle 

 *' nor fifli dare fwim in it; for the w'ater is deftined 

 *' to be the drink of thofe illudrious faints above- 

 " mentioned. Only forae Nat giants fport in the 

 « lake. 



" On the eaftern bank oi Anaudat is the image of a 

 Q 4 " lion's 



■ * The name, as pronounced at Amarapura, fccmed ;o me to be 

 No-wa.dat, 



