256 ON THE RELIGION AND 



of pouring forth water on certain occafions, there is 

 perhaps no confidcrable objcfclion to any of the 

 morality recommended by Godama, unlcfs it be his 

 confidering it criminal to put any animal to death for 

 the ufe of man*; and his reprefenting celibacy as a 

 kind of virtue, or at leafl as a more perfe6l llatc than 

 marriage : an idea, though common to fome of the 

 authors of prevailing religions, yet certainly produc- 

 tive of much mifery, and of the worft confcquenccs. 

 It muft however be confeffed, that the prattice of 

 morality among the Burmas is by no means fo correct, 

 as might be perhaps expetled among a people whofe 

 religious opinions have fuch an apparent tendency to 

 virtue. In particular, an almoft total want of veracitv, 

 and a molt infatiable cruelty in their wars and puni fit- 

 ments, are obfervable among them on the ilightcft 

 acquaintance. 



Having now confidered in a general manner the 

 religion and fcience of the Burmas^ 1 muft defcend 

 fomewhat more to particulars : and in giving an ac- 

 count of their faith, I cannot follow a better guide 

 than the treatife of the Zarado. It will give the 

 reader not only a faithful abridgment of the religious 

 do6trine. of the Rahdns, but will alfo (how him the 

 progrefs made by the belt informed pricfts of the 

 country in the art of compofition and inltruftion. 



But as a preface to this treatife, I muft here infert 

 fome obfervations on the hiftory and name of the 

 god. 



The author of the Alphabetuvi Tibetannm fuppofed 

 BouDDHA 'to have been the fame with the Jesus of 

 the Manichceans ; and father Paulinus, in his triumph 

 Over this abfurdity, denies that any fuch perfon ever 

 exifted. Entirely neglecting the authority of the 



numerous 



* The worfliippers of Gouama Ho not look on any animal food as 

 unclean : it is only the depriving it of life which they regaid as criminal. 

 Accordingly they cat all manner of carrion, and many difgultlng reptiles 

 are their fa'.ourilc food. 



