2/^'Z ON THE RLILCION AND 



" XXXV. But to proceed Avith the account of the 

 *' clcflru^tion of a Avorld; the Burma writings relate, 

 " that 1,000 years before fuch an event, a certain Nat 

 *' defcends from the fuperior abodes to this ifland. His 

 " hair is diflievelled, his countenance mournful, and 

 '* his garments black. He palfcs every where through 

 *' the public ways and ftreets, with piteous voice, an- 

 " nouncing to mankind the approaching difTolution. 

 *' In the fame manner as the fowls of heaven and the 

 " fifh of the fea, by a certain natural infiintt, have a 

 " foreboding of ftorms; fo the Nat in their minds per- 

 *' ceivc the approach of a world's deftruftion. I'hen 

 " mankind are ftrongly excited to an obfervance of 

 *' the law^, and efpecially to the performance of fuch 

 " good w-orks, as may entitle them to afcend to the 

 " abodes of the Rupa^ and Arupa. Thefe good works 

 " are chiefly four: charity, the honouring of parents 

 " and old age, juftice, and the love of our neighbours. 

 " The Nat are thus folicitous to encourage men in ob- 

 " taining a place in the abodes Rupa and Arnpa, be- 

 *• caufe Avhen the world is deftroyed by wind in confe- 

 " quence of mens' crimes, all the habitations of Rupa 

 *• and Arupa perifh: but when it is deftroyed by fire, 

 *' or water, many of thefe abodes remain untouched. 



" On hearing the terrible forebodings of the Nat^ 

 *' men fli udder, and with their utmoft power apply 

 *' themfelves to praftife the four above-mentioned good 

 " works. The Nat alfo who inhabit Mienmo, and the 

 " fuperior abodes, are elevated to the different Zia7i, 

 " The infernal beings, even the lots of whofe evil deeds 

 *' have now expired, are born men, and endeavour to 

 " lead fuch a life as may entitle them to a place in the 

 *' Zia7i. Itis only for the impious, and for infidels, that 

 " there is no falvation. Transferred to the frigid fpaces 

 " iiiterpofed between the different worlds*, thefe fin- 

 *' ners are there left to undergo eternal punifliment. 



"Irrational 



* Page 175 of this Volume, 



