LITERATURE OF THE BURMAS. 255 



** and the fruits of the earth have become of fuch 

 " a noxious quality, as to induce upon mankind 

 " misfortune, difeafe, and peftilcnce." 



Such are the general doctrines of the fe8; of Boud- 

 DHA, as extratted from the writings of the Rahdns 

 by Sangermano; doctrines which, although intended 

 to lead mankind to the performance of good works, 

 are involved in the moft puerile and abfurd fables. 



The religion of the Biirmas is fingular, as exhi- 

 biting a nation confiderably advanced from the rude- 

 nefs of favage nature, and in all the actions of life 

 much under the influence of religious opinions, and 

 yet ignorant of a Supreme Being, the creator and pre- 

 ferver of the univerfe. The fyitem of morals how- 

 ever recommended by thefe fables, is perhaps as good 

 as that held forth by any of the religious doctrines 

 prevailing among mankind. The motives alfo by 

 which thcfe fables excite to good works, unite the 

 temporal nature of the Jewipi law to the future 

 expectations of the Chrijlian difpenfation : while hav- 

 ing adapted the nature of the rewards and punifhments 

 to the conception of our prefent faculties, they have 

 all the power of the Mohamedan paradife ; and having 

 proportioned thefe punifliments and rewards to the 

 extent of virtue or vice, they pofTefs the juftice of 

 the Roman purgatory, but without giving to priefts 

 the dangerous power of curtailing its duration. 

 BouDDHA has no doubt given to the beftowing alms 

 on the clergy a conlpicuous place among,the virtues: 

 but his clergy for fupport are entirely dependant on 

 thefe alms; as they have not ventured to propofe any 

 Oated, lading, or accumulating property, being an- 

 nexed to their order; nor have they affumed to them- 

 felves any rank or power in the management of fecu- 

 lar affairs. I'Lxcept this elevation of an inferiour 

 virtue to the rank of an important duty, and the 

 merit which we ftiall find given to die ccremonv 



of 



