1841.] Report on the Island of Chedooba. 429 



from the obscenity which stigmatizes other religions around it. It 

 stands also peculiarly marked off from them, based on its principles of per- 

 fect selfishness, in not even acknowledging fear or respect for a Supreme 

 Being. 



Annihilation is the goal to be attained, not participation in the perfec- 

 tions, nor reward at the hands of deity ; in reference to whose anger or 

 approbation, not an action to be perfomed has the slight regard, even if 

 his very existence be at all admitted. A certain amount of good deeds 

 registered in the sacred books are to be performed, in order to entitle you to 

 a happier state of existence for another life, which is again to be a scene 

 of endeavour to the same purpose, and this gradual improvement in succes- 

 sive periods and states of existence (if merited) is to continue progres- 

 sing till a certain point of goodness is attained, when as he can then 

 become no better, existence itself is of no further use, and as the reward 

 of all this labour, in the attainment of perfection, the fortunate being is 

 annihilated; a consummation to which their object of worship, Gaudma, 

 arrived in the most limited number of existences ever yet run through. 

 On the other hand the usual terrors of transmigration are held out, and a 

 fish or a dog, or some less reprobate animal, is to be the lot of those whose 

 misdeeds prevail against their good ones. Some infractions of the law t 

 indeed are of themselves sufficient to ensure such punishment, and I was 

 gravely assured by the principal man on the Island, who was ordered to 

 attend me throughout it, that if unluckily I did shoot a wild pig, here- 

 after I should meet my desert, in not only being turned into, but actually 

 shot by one myself. 



This person, the Soogree of Chedooba, was otherwise a very intelligent 

 young man, and though the most zealous adherent of Boodhism on 

 the Island, yet he seemed but half pleased with it, and was fond of 

 bringing its merits into discussion, and never shewed the slightest 

 symptom of annoyance at the laugh which a relation of its absurdi- 

 ties sometimes called forth, and which his better reason told him was 

 well deserved. He had been at school at Ramree studying English, 

 when called away to succeed his father in the Soogreeship 4 years 

 since ; and he had then built a King or Church, a work which had 

 fairly committed him to as strict observance of all other good works, 

 saving celibacy, as if a priest. In observing the prohibition to eat of any 

 thing which had ever enjoyed life, in order not to encourage its destruc- 

 tion, he would not touch of food wherein were eggs or milk ; but in the 

 list of the protected the poor fish are not included, and he laughed 

 heartily while taking advantage of his privilege, and making a sound 



