1838.] at Dhauli in Cuttack. 453 



marking on the word anusayanam there used, I stated that such 

 a periodical humiliation was not known at the present day. On 

 further inquiry however I learn that a practice does prevail in 

 such Buddhist countries as are still independent, which seems pre- 

 cisely to explain the terms of the inscription. In Siam for instance 

 the Buddhist monarch every year in the month of Asdrha, throws off 

 his regal robes, shaves his head, adopts the yellow sackcloth of a 

 noviciate, and does penance- for a few days in one of the vihdras along 

 with all his court ; — slaves are even bought to be shaved and initiated 

 as an act of virtue in their converter. In Ava the same practice prevails. 

 Even in Calcutta, I am told, among the small Maga population here, 

 the adoption of the yellow dress and abstraction from worldly pursuits 

 for a period is not an uncommon occurrence, and the term employed 

 is, nikkhama, exactly that found in the inscription. 



My friend Mr. Csoma de Koros has pointed out to me the follow- 

 ing passage in Georgi's ' Alphabetum Tibetanum' on the practice of 

 fasting in Tibet. 



* Jejunia turn Xacaitis ascetis, turn etiam laicis communia duplicis 

 sunt generis. Alterum quod appellant Gnunne nigidum (zrafj'^l^^V), 

 clauditur horis integris viginti quatuor. Tanta est jejunii hujus se Veri- 

 tas, ac superstitio, ut ne ipsam quidem salivam, sponte fluentem in ore, 

 ad fauces retrahere, ac deglutire liceat. Illud plerique agunt tribus conti- 

 nuatis diebus, unica theae potione, quam hora matutina sumunt, recreati. 

 Alterum jejunii genus vocant Gnenne (zra3) T E]d><v — Sans, upavdsaj 

 Vespere semel prandent. Licitum tamen est interdiu bibere. Laici 

 frequentius, quam Ascetae hujusmodi jejunia observant. Sed religiosis 

 et sanctimonialibus severissime praeceptum est, ne unquam inter pran- 

 dium et ccenulum quicquam vel bibere vel degustare audeant. 



The mention here of three days leads me to suggest that for the tint 

 vasdni, three years, of the first tablet it will be more rational to read 

 tini divasdni, three days, for the period of humiliation to be enforced 

 in the territories under the rule of the prince of Ujjein. 



The term nikhama has in Pali two very different meanings, one as 

 representing the Sanskrit f*i§fin nishkrama, putting out or off, (in mo- 

 dern Hindi nikdlnd ?) the other being the Sanskrit (%:^*t: nikshama, 

 from the root ^?r peace, repose, devotion. I am not sufficiently versed 

 in the language to decide in which sense the verbal form here used is 

 to be understood ; but from the term nikhamayisanti anusayanam I 

 should be inclined to translate ' shall admit into the body of the church, 

 or shall give absolution to the penitent,' for nikhama is alsc under- 

 3 l 2 



