1066 Account of two Burmese [Dec* 



of which the small bell is composed assimilates very closely with that 

 of the large one, I have used it to determine the weight of the latter, 

 and which I find by the simple rule of proportion is 31 J hundred 

 weight nearly. 



The accompanying sketches I personally executed from scale and 

 measurement, and can vouch for their critical resemblance to the ori- 

 ginals ; and the facsimile of the inscriptions I have carefully compar- 

 ed, and can pronounce with safety upon their accuracy. 1 may here 

 mention that until I filled the crevices of the letters on the bell with 

 yellow ochre (and I tried many other colors), I found it utterly impos- 

 sible to distinguish, and copy faithfully the inscription through the 

 tracing paper, although the paper was extremely thin, oiled, and ren- 

 dered transparent for the purpose. 



The representation of the small bell, has been executed on a some- 

 what larger scale, because I could not otherwise satisfactorily exhibit 

 its mouldings. 



I will not occupy your time with any further observations, the 

 drawings and copy of inscriptions will speak for themselves ; and if 

 they be considered useful and acceptable to the Asiatic Society, the 

 little trouble I have taken will be amply compensated. 



I cannot however resist communicating the particulars of an at- 

 tempt made by a native to impose upon me a feigned translation of 

 the inscription, because the circumstance will shew how far the dis- 

 position of these people leads them to practise deception and rogue- 

 ry whenever opportunity offers, and they can hope to turn it to 

 account. 



1 had offered a remuneration of two goldmohurs to any person who 

 could, and was willing to translate the inscription, and I made this 

 offer because I had heard that one or two Arracanese Mugs who came 

 round to Bengal with Gardner's horse, were residing in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Khass Gunj and could accomplish the task : I tried one 

 man and found him incompetent, when a Tanjore brahmin who had 

 come to this part of the country on a pilgrimage presented himself, 

 declared his ability to undertake the office, and to convince me of his 

 fitness, produced several specimens of a written character having a 

 strong resemblance to Burmese ; and which in my presence he ap- 

 peared to read and write with facility. Flattering myself that I had 

 found a clever and useful fellow, I at once set him to work on the large 

 bell inscription ; and attended on the following day at the sewala 

 to see what progress had been made. I found that one sheet con- 

 taining 1 lines, had been faithfully transcribed ; and that the brah- 



