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JOURNAL 



ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



No. I. 1864. 



On the history of the Burmah Race. — By Lieut.- Colonel A. P. 

 Pixayre, C. B., Chief Commissioner of British Burmah. 



The Chronicles of the Kings of Burma, called Maha Badza Weng 

 are preserved with great care. Some years ago, the present writer was 

 presented by the king of Burma with a complete copy of this national 

 w~ork. His Majesty is himself a man of ^earning, and the edition from 

 which the information now presented is derived, appears to have been 

 compiled under his direction with careful research. Supposed errors 

 of former editions are pointed out, and original authorities are in such 

 cases quoted, All that part of the history, which refers to cosmogony, 

 and the dynasties of kings in India, is derived from Pali books, and 

 has no more real connection with Burmese history, than the Hebrew 

 annals have with British history. The object of the present paper is 

 to make an epitome of the Burmese narrative, presenting only an 

 outline of the main facts, yet omitting nothing which is necessary to 

 be known to understand the history of the Burmese race as written by 

 themselves. 



The Maha Badza Weng commences with describing the self-devel- 

 opment of the world, and the appearance of man therein. The system 

 of cosmogony has, together with the Budhist philosophy and religion 

 been derived from India, and the Burmese kings profess to trace their 

 descent from the Budhist kings of Kappilawot of the Sahya tribe, to 

 which race Gautama Budha belonged. The history contains the 

 Budhist account of the first formation of human society ; the election 

 of a king, and the grant to him of a share of the produce of the soil. 

 These legends constitute to this day the foundation of the authority, 



