2G On the History of Arakan. [No. 145. 



a. d. 1501, are confirmed by coins, some of which are in my posses- 

 sion. 



Having deemed it necessary to say thus much by way of preface, I 

 now proceed with my epitome of the history. 



The writer opens with a declaration of devotion to the three treasures : 

 " Deity, Law, and the Assembly of the Faithful," and invokes the angel 

 Thoya-tha-ti, that he may be inspired with eloquence. He then states 

 his plan as follows :— 



" I propose to give the history of all the kings sprung from the Bud- 

 den-ggu-ya* race, descendants of king Maha-tha-ma-da in lineal suc- 

 cession, who reigned in Yek-kha-pu-ra, that royal golden Rahhaing 

 land, which is like the city of Maha-tho-da-tha-na^ ten thousand 

 yu-ja-na\ in extent, placed on the summit of Mount Myen-mo t 

 two hundred and fifty thousand yu-ja-na in extent, and in attack- 

 ing which the fierce A-thu-yas\ are constantly defeated, which is si- 

 tuated on the surface of Jam-bu-di-pa\ thirty thousand yu-ja-na in 

 circumference, being honorably placed at the summit, where all its 

 enemies cannot prevail against it." 



Having pronounced this eulogy upon his country, the historian pro- 

 ceeds to narrate the origin of mankind. 



" When the present world-era first arose, Byahmas^ coming to the 

 earth, saw in the centre thereof, five tiers of lotuses, together with the 

 eight canonical requisites ;** having plucked these, a Byahma interpret- 

 ing the omen, said : In this world-period there will appear five Budhas, 



* This race of kings is stated to have first reigned in Ba-ra-na-thi, or Benares. 



f A city on the summit of Mount Myen-mo, which is the centre of the Sekyah sys- 

 tem. A Sekyah system comprises a central Myen-mo Mount, the surrounding seas and 

 islands, the celestial regions, and the infernal regions. (Judson's Bur. Dicty.) 



X Yu-ja-na, a measure of distance comprising about thirteen miles. 



§ A-thu-ya, fallen Nat or Spirit, formerly driven from the summit of the Myen-mo 

 Mount. (Judson.) 



|| The world we live in, being the southern of the four great islands which surround 

 the Myen-mo Mount. 



1T Byhama, a celestial being, superior to Nats. 



** These consist of, 1. Theng-kan, a priest's upper yellow garment, or mantle; 2. 

 Theng-boing, a priest's lower garment; 3. Fakot, part of a priest's dress, worn as a scarf 

 across the shoulder; 4. Khaban, the girdle ; 5. Kharoing, water dipper; 6. Thengdon, 

 or razor for shaving the head ; 7. Theng-bit, earthen dish for holding rice ; 8. Com- 

 prising two articles of use, viz. Ka-nyit or stylus for writing on palm leaf, and Ap, 

 or needle, for sewing the canonicals. 



