138 Copper plate inscription from Karennee. [August, 



she IS for the average run of them, but some again are still better. Indeed, 

 a full length life size figure of a good one in oil, with all the beads, brace- 

 lets, d3^ed goat hair, shells, &c., being in lieu of costume, would create a 

 perfect furore in the Royal Academy any year.' 



5. From Col. J. H. Haughton, C. S. I., — A brass sleeve link bear- 

 ing an Arabic inscription, 



6. From Captain W. G. Hughes, Superintendent Hill Tracts, Ar- 

 racan, — A facsimile of a copper plate inscription found at Karennee. 



The following letter accompanied the donation. 



" I have enclosed under cover a brief notice and a facsimile of a re- 

 markable plate, which exists in the country of the non-tributary tribe 

 of Karens of Western Karennee under Chiefs Koonte, and for which I 

 have to thank the Rev. Mr. Bunker, a Missionary stationed at Tounghoo. 

 It was forwarded me when I was Officiating Deputy Commissioner of Toun- 

 ghoo District, and perhaps as the characters would appear to be unknown, a 

 notice of it in the Society's papers might lead to some useful result, and 

 throw some additional light on the history of that portion of the coun- 

 try inhabited by wild tribes." 



Mr. Bunker's note is as follows — 



" Enclosed please find the copy of the metallic plate which I found in 

 Karennee on my last journey to that country. 



" This plate is formed of mixed metal which resembles gold and cop- 

 per, one half gold, i. e., one half of the transverse axis of the plate, while 

 the rest resembles copper, — the two joined together showing an irregular 

 line through the length of the plate. The -jealousy of the chiefs would 

 not allow a very careful examination, hence there is much uncertainty as 

 to the real character of the metal. The plate is six inches long by two 

 in width, and about one-fourth of an inch in thickness. It is engraved 

 with the character, the copy of which I enclose, on both sides of the plate. 

 The cutting of the letters is clear and deep, but the slips of the chisel 

 in engraving, are many, showing a hand not greatly skilled in such work, 

 yet compared with the ordinary skill displayed by natives of this country, 

 it may be pronounced excellent. 



" The traditions of this plate are very many, extending throughout 

 all the tribes of Karens from Tounghoo to Mergui. Of course, these 

 traditions take different forms among different tribes, but they manifestly 

 point to this, or a similar plate, as their origin. 



" The Red Karen chiefs and old men themselves know nothing of the 

 origin of this plate further than their traditions. Evidently the plate 

 came into the possession of the Karennee chiefs, before the remembrance 

 of any man now living among them. They say that it has been handed 

 down from chief to chief from most ancient times, and of course, they 



