116 The Pegu Pagoda. [No. 2, 



In the year 1116 of the religions and 514 of the 3rd era* the 

 Thagya king established the brothers Thamala and Wiemala as rulers 

 over the country of Hanthawadie. They found the Shwe Hmawdaw 

 still in existence. In 523 king Thamala, perceiving that the " Htee" 

 (chatta or canopy) of the Pagoda was bent and inclining towards the 

 south-west, was filled with religious fear, and raised the Pagoda from 

 its original height of 50 to 54 cubits, crowned it with a new golden 

 Htee, and dedicated 25 families of Engdaret to its service. 



In 526 Thamala died, and his brother Wiemala Koomma reigned 

 alone. He added 5 cubits to the height of Shwe Hmawdaw, making 

 it 59 cubits in all, gilded it, and gave it a new golden Htee. He also 

 erected nine others Tsedees, the names of which are given, and 

 dedicated five families of Tadaugyan to the perpetual service of the 

 Shwe Hmawdaw. 



Wiemala reigned alone 17 years and died in 543. He was succeeded by 

 his nephew, Thamala's son, named Athakoomrna. He also was a pious 

 prince, and being desirous of surpassing the meritorious works performed 

 by his uncle, added 6 cubits more to the height of the Shwe Hmaw- 

 daw, and built seven other Tsedees, the names of which are given, 

 all of which he gilded, and crowned with golden Htees. After reign- 

 ing seven years, he died in 550. 



He was succeeded by his son Ariendaraza or Arienda koomma. 

 Seven months after this prince came to the throne, he observed that 

 the Htee of the Shwe Hmawdaw was inclining towards the north- 

 west. On this he ordered his chief noble Thoorathiedie at once 

 to repair and embellish the holy structure. This was done, and seven 

 more cubits were added to the height of the Pagoda, making it 73 

 cubits high. Thoorathiedhia's son erected another Pagoda, also 73 

 cubits high, to the north of the Shwe Hmawdaw, which Pagoda is 

 still known by the name of the " Nobleman's Son's Pagoda." Arien- 

 daraza, who was well versed in the laws of kings and replete with 

 the eighteen kinds of knowledge, was desirous of emulating the 



* By the 3rd era the writer means the 3rd era after Gaudama. i. e. the present 

 one. As before remarked, there is no secular era of which the 514th year cor- 

 responds with the 1 1 16th year.of the religious era. As far as the chronicle shews, 

 therefore, it is doubtful whether Pegu was founded by Thamala and Wiemala 

 in 573, A D. or in 1152, A. D. In the text, to avoid confusion, the dates only 

 of the secular era mentioned by the chronicler, will be given. 





