GREAT BELL OF RANGOON. 277 



translation of the Burmese word for the same day of the week, which is called 

 Tanenganwene, called so from the sun, considered as a planet. 



('*) A Yuzana, is a distance very little less than thirteen miles ; thus, the 

 circumstance of the Great Southern Island, which is our earth, is 130,000 miles. 



('^) " 15,555 Piektha" — The Piektha, called by Europeans a viss, is 366 

 pounds avoirdupoise, and therefore the weight of the bell is within a trifle of 

 twenty-five tons. 



('*) *' Engwa" — " Yatanapura'* — Engwa is what is corrupted by Euro- 

 peans into Ava. £lng means a fish-pond, and wa an entrance or opening. 

 The town was constructed on the site of seven fish ponds, and derived its name 

 from this circumstance. The Kings are called after the capital city, and in- 

 deed, there is no common name for the country inhabited by the Burmese 

 nation. Yatana, or Ratanapura, is the City of Gems. By the Burmese, the 

 word ra is not only commonly sounded like i/a^ but in writing, the two letters 

 are frequently used interchangeably. 



('5) " Like the tongues of Lions'* — The words in the original are both 

 Pali and Burmese ; the former is Thiha, a corruption of the Sanscrit word 

 Singha. The lion is not a native of the Burmese country : there are in it, 

 however, images in great numbers, said to be representations of that animal ; 

 though it is difficult to find any traces of resemblance. A short time before 

 the breaking out of the late war, the King received a present of a lioness. 

 On the commencement of hostilities, it was considered a bad omen to have at 

 the capital an animal, whose figure was painted on the English banner. She 

 was doomed, therefore, to the same treatment as a Kala, or foreigner, that is 

 to say, was closely imprisoned und starved. 



("') " Maha Damma Razadipate," is the Prakrit form of Maha Dherma 

 Rajadhipati, or Supreme Lord of virtuous kings. — H. H. W. 



(■') " Ten royal virtues," — These are donations for religious purposes, 

 practice of religious precepts, beneficence, integrity, gentleness, temperance, 

 suppression of anger, lenity, forbearance, condescension. 



2 X 



