2 NOETLING : PETROLEUM IN BURMA. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Gibson, Extra Assistant Commis- 

 sioner, I received a somewhat different account of the legend. 

 The account gives the abridged contents of a favourite "poway" 1 fre- 

 quently played at Yenangyoung. It runs as follows : — 



" During the reign of Poph Saw Rahan, the eleventh king of 

 Pagan, in the year 2 B. E. (A. D. 640), the Myothuggi 2 of 

 Kyaukka Myo 3 and his relatives dug a large tank about two 

 miles east of their town for the benefit of the inhabitants. 

 This tank was called Myitta-kan, i.e., "constructed to gain merit." 

 Before its completion an earthquake occurred, and on the 

 ground cracking about the tank it filled with highly perfumed 

 waters (Yenanthasi), which attracted thousands of pilgrims and 

 proved a source of great benefit to the Myothuggi and his family. 

 It was subsequently prophesied by a Rahan ( = P6ngyi),* named P6n- 

 nawadda Mabi, that at the command of a king the perfumed waters 

 of Yenanthasi would loose their sweet scent and change into an 

 oily liquid emitting a noxious odour, and henceforward be known 

 by the name of Yenan ; but these effects, far from causing any dis- 

 tress to the descendants of the Myothuggi, who would be 24 in 

 number, would on the contrary benefit them greatly, as the Yenan 

 would be of great demand for preserving of " pezois " ( = palm leaf 

 with sacred writings) and for illuminating pagodas and temples. 



Years passed, and the time for the fulfilment of the prophecy was 

 at hand. The King Alaungsitha Mingyi of Pagan having heard 

 that Kyaukka Myo was a famous town and contained many wonders, 

 made up his mind to pay the place a visit. Accordingly he left 

 Pagan on the 4th day of the waxing moon of the month of Pyatho46o, 

 Burmese Era (=January 1099 A.D.), with the following retinue :— 



28 ladies under charge of a eunuch designated Kye Pdnna, 

 100 bos ( = officers and wise men), 80,000 troops, rank and file, 

 12 towing boats and rafts, 



1 Poway, is the national Burmese drama. ! Rockcave town, now Yenangyoung. 

 3 Headman. * Burmese priest or monk. 



( 48 ) 



