1859.] A Sketch of Toungoo History. 



A Sketch of Toungoo History. — By Rev. Dr. F. Mason. 



To the Editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 



Sik, — Perhaps none have read Capt. Yule's paper on the ancient 

 Buddhist remains at Pagan with more interest than myself, espe- 

 cially his invaluable historical note. I am full in the belief that 

 when we become better acquainted with the Talaing and Burmese 

 historic literature, we shall have a history of the country nearly 

 as accurate as Macaulay's, if not quite so poetic. Native histories 

 are difficult to be obtained, when obtained difficult to read, and 

 when read, difficult to translate, so as to interest European readers. 

 When I came up to Toungoo in 1853 I read two different histories 

 of the country in Burmese, but have never before offered a sketch 

 of their contents to the press, for the reason given above. Capt. 

 Tule's article, however, exhibits so clearly the lack of historical 

 documents on this country, that every contribution, however small, 

 to supply the deficiency, cannot but be acceptable. It is to be 

 regretted that so i'ew thoroughly versed in the languages have leisure 

 to do any thing in this department, we are indebted to Col. Burney 

 and Major Phayre for nearly all we know of Burmese history. 



Capt. Yule is surprised to find all the details of the architecture 

 at Pagan of Hindu origin ; but there is little reason for astonish- 

 ment when it is known that Anoratha, or Anoratha Sau men,* 

 when he established Buddhism in Pagan, built all the Pagodas and 

 temples iu Pagan after the exact models of those then existing in 

 Thatung or Satung, of the same size, and in the same order. Such, 

 is the testimony of Talaing tradition, and 1 believe of Tabling history. 

 There is proof on the pages of your Journal, f that he sent to Thatung 

 for Rahans and priests versed in the Pitakat to teach his people, 

 and that he obtained the descendants J of Sona and Uttara, the 

 first Buddhist missionaries from Central India to Bunnah. As 

 Thatung was then the principal city in the country for religion, it 

 probably held a similar distinction in the arts, and as Solomon sent 



f May, 1834. " Inscription from Ramree Island." 



X Erroneously rendered in the Journal. "Through fche instrumentality of 

 Sonathera and Uttarather, and their disciples and survivors." 



C 



