1835.] Journal of a Tour through the Island of Rarnbree. 205 



wiin Shuwedong-sa-ga-su residing at Rarnbree. The latter was sub- 

 sequently sent on a mission to Benares, and his brother Mounge 

 appointed to officiate during his absenee. The mission was directed 

 to ascertain the existence of the Bhodibeng tree, as well as the site of 

 many places known to have been the scene of Gautama's early labour. 

 On the return of Shuwe-dong-su-ga-su to the court of Ava, with the 

 information obtained, he took the opportunity of effecting by the most 

 persuasive means the dismissal of his rival from office, and from his 

 unremitting but futile endeavours to regain that place by a method 

 equally expensive, Komeng-shuwe-bo is now living in comparatively 

 reduced circumstances at the town of Rarnbree. 



The change of rule has perhaps been as fatal to the prosperity of the 

 monastic sects, as it has been disadvantageous to those who once 

 constituted the higher classes of the people. The influence voluntarily 

 conceded to the Phungris by the Burmah Mey-o-ivuns was astonish- 

 ingly great, and reminds one much of the power once possessed bv the 

 priesthood of the Catholic kingdoms in Europe. In cases where a more 

 peaceable species of intervention had proved unsuccessful, it was not 

 uncommon for the Phungris to assemble for the rescue of a criminal 

 about to suffer execution. The spot selected for the process of decapi- 

 tation was in the neighbourhood of a large tree, at the S. E. extremi- 

 ty of the town. The unfortunate criminal, having been previously 

 manacled, was led out for execution between files of Burmah soldiers, 

 and when arrived at the ground was made to kneel with the head 

 inclined, as a mark of obeisance to the ruler of the land, and avowal 

 of the justice of the sentence, in the meantime, the head was severed 

 from the body (generally with a single blow of the dao) by the execu- 

 tioner*, who stood behind waiting the signal for the stroke. It being 

 deemed a crime to take away life, it is conceived, by the worshippers 

 of Buddha, an act of piety to endeavour to save from death even 

 the vilest of animated beings ; and as little resistance was evinced 

 towards a class held in such peculiar veneration, the Phungris not 

 unfrequently succeeded in carying off the criminal before execution 

 had been effected. Taking him to the Kioum, he remained there 

 until death or a change of Government secured him from the malice 

 of his enemies, and the vengeance of the law in punishment of his 

 crimes. 



* The executioners were individuals who had been condemned to death 

 for heinous offences, and subsequently spared, on condition of their devoting 

 their lives to the performance of this odious service. They were at the same 

 time branded upon the cheek, to guard against the chances of desertion. 



