1859.] History of the Shine* Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon. 477 



ground, and its root touched not the ground. Therefore the place 

 was called in the Mwon language ' Dagon/ "* 



A shrine or relic chamber was then prepared under-ground, to 

 receive the sacred relics, which were deposited therein with great 

 ceremony, by the Nats, the King, the Merchant Tha-ka-lai, now 

 surnamed Thoo-wan-na, and the inhabitants of the country. Nu* 

 merous valuables, gold, silver and precious stones were also deposit- 

 ed in the relic chamber, and the golden model of a ship, with the 

 two brothers holding the helm, floated miraculously, on a mimic 

 sea. A small pagoda, not exceeding eighteen cubits in height, was 

 then erected over the relic. The city then founded on the ground 

 around the present pagoda, was called Oo-ka-la-ba. This is the 

 first account of a place of worship being erected on the site of the 

 present Shwe Dagon. The date of this event is stated to be 103 

 of the era established by Gautama's grandfather, or B.C. 588. 



The dynasty of this Sovereign of Oo-ka-la-ba ceased after thirty- 

 two generations, and the city of Oo-ka-la-ba and the Shwe Dagon 

 Pagoda fell to ruins. 



* Much doubt has existed regarding the origin and meaning of the word 

 Dagon as applied by the Burmese to the Great Pagoda at Rangoon. It has been 

 supposed to be a corruption of the Pali word Dagoba from whence the European 

 Fagoda, is, by transposition of the syllables derived. Several other supposed 

 etymologies might be mentioned ; but the name appears to be most probably 

 derived from a word in the Mon or Talaing language. The obscurity in the 

 meaning has resulted from that language having become nearly extinct in Pegu 

 and from the Burmese authors of histories of the temple, seldom being acquaint- 

 ed with that language. The tree mentioned in the text appears according to the 

 Talaing legend to have fallen " Tagun" or " Takun," that is athwart or across 

 the hill, and to have been sustained horizontally in that position. The term 

 Tagtin, though strictly applicable to the object so placed across the hill, appears 

 afterwards to have been used to designate the spot itself; and also the Pagoda 

 built upon it, in commemoration of this remarkable event. The word has been 

 changed by the Burmese into " Dagon" or " Dagun." The word Shwe, meaning 

 Golden, is a translation of the original Talaing word pi'efixed to " Ta-gun." It 

 is now used as a term indicative of excellence and respect. 



The tree being sustained by the hill in the position mentioned was probably 

 deemed to mark the original spot where the relics of former Boodhas had been 

 deposited, and to indicate the destined site for the new Pagoda. 



3 Q 



