328 Notes on the Buddhasfrom Ceylonese authorities. [June, 



ing the date which I have assigned to the commencement of Kasya- 

 pa's ministry : — 



In a fragment of a poem which has the appearance of having been 

 rendered into Cingalese from Sanscrit, called the Leechawee history, 

 Brahmadatta, king of Baranas, is mentioned, and that Buddha was 

 then residing in that city. The date is given in round numbers 2000 

 years after the commencement of the Kali yuga, which corresponds 



with B. C. 1101 



Padmakarpa, a Lama of Bhotan, fixes the date, 1058 



The Chinese place the birth of Buddha*, 1036 



M. Bailly* 1031 



Matonan Sin, a Chinese Historian-^, 1027 



De Guignes, from Mongolian records*, ...... 1027 



Japanese Encyclopedia fixes his birth, 1027 



Ditto ditto his death, 960 



Inscription at Buddha Gya*, 1014 



Mongol Chronology of Pallas, 991 



Cassiano by the calculations of the Tibetians appeared^, 959 



Ditto ditto died, 950 



Giorgi, death of Buddha, 959 



La mort de Bouddha, on plutot de Shakyamuni le premier de Bouddhas, 

 est placee par un monument d'une authenticity incontestable, L'Ency- 

 clopedie Japonaise, en 950 avant notri £re§, 950 



From these concurring dates, I am inclined to believe, that the 

 death of Kasyapa Buddha occurred about B. C. 950, and the earlier 

 dates given above, are either that of his birth or of his having 

 become a Buddha. 



Of Gautama, 

 The fourth Buddha in the present dispensation — Became Buddha, B. C. 



588 ; died, B. C. 543. 



B. C. 543 is the era of Gautama Buddha, and generally used in the 

 religious and historical works of Ceylon. 



It is this Gautama whose moral doctrines are recognised as the rule 

 of conduct ; whose name is still invoked as the present Buddha by 

 the Cingalese ; and the existing records of whose life and minis- 

 try are so minute and credible, that they may fairly claim to be 

 admitted into genuine history. The following are a few of the most 

 remarkable events of his life, particularly as connected with Ceylon, 



* From Sir William Jones's Chronology of the Hindus* 

 t Prinsep's Chronological Tables. 



'J Wilford's Chronological list of the kings of Maghada. 

 § Messrs. Bournouf et Lassen. 



