1837.] Bells now in Upper India. 1067 



min had copied 4 more lines on the second sheet ; the first I directed 

 him to transcribe again on a new sheet, while I would complete the 

 second. I now determined to put this brahmin's honesty to the test, 

 and while the fellow was busily engaged at a distance from me, I en- 

 tered one line on the second sheet, resembling the inscription, that is, 

 the line contained Burmese letters throughout, which I had fancifully 

 put together : to this line I added four or five others correctly traced, 

 and then called the brahmin to translate the whole sheet. It amused 

 me to find, that he read my composition and the Burmese, with equal 

 readiness, and apparent confidence, but when I applied the copied 

 inscription to the bell, and he perceived no resemblance in the copy 

 to the original, and that I had gravelled his ingenious effort to delude 

 and rob me, it would be difficult indeed to describe his discomfiture. 

 He never for an instant endeavoured to deny the attempt at imposition, 

 but coolly defended the proceeding on the grounds of poverty, and 

 the almost certain prospect he entertained of escaping detection. 



Note. — Having prepared the plates for this paper we have inserted 

 them in the present volume, although we are unprepared to subjoin a 

 copy and translate of the longer inscription, which however perfectly 

 executed in facsimile has proved beyond Ratna Paula's power of de- 

 ciphering, as well as that of Col. Burney and his Burmese Pandit 

 now in Calcutta. By their advice I have sent it to Mr. Blundell at 

 Moulmein, but after all nothing very interesting can be expected from 

 a document of such a nature. The smaller inscription Col. Burney 

 obligingly took in hand, and we have the pleasure to subjoin his note 

 with the text in Burmese — the facsimile it is not necessary to litho- 

 graph. — Ed. 



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