1848.] Gleanings in Buddhisin. 87 



ed a holy priest to go and bring their relies, but the messenger had no 

 sooner reached Raja Naga's palace, than the latter whispered to his 

 brother* to fly with the relics to Mem and hide both himself and them. 

 This being done he told the priest that he knew not where the relics 

 were. But the observant priest had noticed the Raja's brother putting 

 the relics into his mouth or swallowing them on his departure, the more 

 effectually to conceal them. He accordingly followed him to Meru, where 

 he found him coiled up and fast asleep with his jaws wide open. He drew 

 forth the relics without awaking him, and returned with them to Lanka. 

 Soon after this Raja Naga arrived in the form of a handsome youth, 

 and solicited a few relics from his Majesty, which were bestowed upon 

 him accordingly." 



His Majesty now ordered a golden ship to be made. It was one 

 cubit long, and one span broad. The relics were put into a golden cup, 

 this was placed in a vase, and the whole were put into the golden ship. 



A wooden ship was next built having a breadth of beam of seven long 

 cubits." 



(The length, judging by such a breadth would be about 200 feet.) 



"When built this vessel was loaded with bricks and mortar, and 

 abundance of provisions and necessaries, with gold and silver, were placed 

 on board. Four golden jars were made for the occasion, and they were 

 filled with the poison of snakes. 



T'hont'ha Kuman and Hemachala, being desirous of revisiting their 

 country, the king of Lanka sent along with them ambassadors to one 

 of the five kings, (he) who now ruled there, requesting him to show 

 every sort of attention and respect towards them. Two hundred young 

 men and one hundred damselsf were also embarked, and many learned 

 priests availed themselves of this opportunity of spreading their religion 

 (the Buddhist.) 



The vessel reached the Diamond Sands in five months, J and the 

 Prince and Princess then went on shore accompanied by the priests (of 

 Buddha.) 



* Nephew in the Mahawanso, pp. 188, 189, where a longer account is given. It is 

 moreover stated that the enshrining- of these relics took place in Ceylon. 



t Labourers apparently. 



t This might have been an alteration by the Siamese, perhaps in order to make it 

 appear that Ligor was the destination of the vessel, but more probably it is merely a 

 clerical error. 



