SI On the History of the Burma Race. [No. 2 



probably is the locality now shown to travellers as the ,site of the 

 palace. The enclosure wall can still be traced by a line of earth 

 mixed with brick. The magnificent temples built some centuries 

 later, still exist entire, but of the palace, which no doubt was built of 

 wood, not a vestige remains. This king also built the city of Tung- 

 gweng to the south and called it Ra-ma-wa-ti. 



After this the history frequently refers to the heretical religion 

 which existed, of which the A-ri teachers were the priests. The false 

 worship which was practiced is strongly denounced, apparently to 

 enhance the merit of the revival of pure Buddhism under A-nan-ra-hta 

 about four hundred years later. But before that king appears, the his- 

 torian considers it necessary to make it clear, that he was of the true 

 royal race, an object carefully kept in view throughout the history 

 with reference to each king, from whom the present royal family 

 claim descent It is recorded that the thirty-fourth king of Pugan, 

 named Tan-net was deposed by an obscure youth called Nga-khwe. 

 It is admitted that Nga-khwe was of obscure origin. He had been 

 sold as a slave ; but his descent is traced from a younger brother of 

 Thein-tsusan the twenty-sixth king of Pugan. He entered the 

 service of king Tan-net as a groom. He soon rose in the king's 

 favour and confidence. At length he acquired much influence, and 

 entered into a conspiracy against the king, whom he murdered. He 

 then seized the throne. He reigned nine years and was succeeded by 

 his son Thein-kho. A curious story is told of this king having been 

 accidentally killed while hunting in the forest. The king, having 

 been separated from his followers, and being hungry, entered the 

 plantation of a hill man and plucked a cucumber. The hill man, not 

 knowing the king, struck him with a spade, and killed him. The 

 story is thus continued : " The groom of king Thein-kho having 

 come up and seeing the body of his master, asked the hill man, ' Why 

 have you struck him to death ?' ' The hill man replied, ' Your master 

 plucked and ate my cucumbers, and shall I not strike him ?' The 

 groom said craftily, ' He who kills a king always becomes king him- 

 self.' The hill man answered, ' I don't wish to be a king. This year 

 I am a king of cucumbers, which hang on the stalks in my plantation 

 like sucking puppies.' The groom said, ' You shall have your cucum- 

 bers and enjoy also the pleasure of reigning as a king. The hap- 



