INSCRIPTION FROM BUDDHA GAYA. 



175 



The figures in the two dates 467 and 468, are not very distinct in the inscription.* 

 The six also in the first and the eight in the last date are not quite clear. If the learned 

 Barmese at Rangoon are correct in their reading of the figures, considerable doubt wil' 

 still exist, how far they are right in considering Pyoo-ta-thein-mein to be the King 

 of Arracan, Let-ya-nan, who they assert, although it is not mentioned in their large 

 history, was styled chief of 100,000 Pyoos, because he was born at Pagan and had been 

 established on the throne by 100,000 Pyoos. The Arracan history, as before quoted, 

 states that Let-ya-nan was assisted by Aloung-tsee-thoo, after the year 480, that 

 is, at least twelve years after the date of this inscription, in which this name, Pyoo-ta- 

 thein-men occurs. It is more probable then, that this title was given to the chief 

 or general of some Pagan army on the frontiers of Arracan, and it appears that the 

 first army sent against that country by Aloung-tsee-thoo was forced to retreat. 



On referring to the chronological table of the kings of Arracan given in Mr. 

 Paton's Historical and Statistical Sketch of Arracan published in the 16th volume of the 

 Asiatic Researches, it will be seen, that there are several names similar to those 

 mentioned in the Burmese history. MaNick Phalong may be the same as the Burmese 

 Men Bheeloo; Samkyang as their Thea Khaya; Manik Zadi as Men Badi ; 

 and Leyya as Let-ya-nan. This last king of Arracan is described in Mr. Paton's 

 list, as having reigned between the Mug, wdiich are the same as the Burmese years 498 

 and 500, or A. D. 1138 and 1140; and as those dates will be 31 and 32 years subsequent 

 to the dates given in this inscription, here is another ground for doubting the accuracy 

 of the Burmese ai Rangoon, in considering Pyoo-ta-thein-men to be Let-ya-nan. 

 The account given by Mr. Paton of the deposition of Manick Ppialong, by his own 

 Minister San Kyang ; of his sou's taking refuge with the king of Ava; and of an 

 army from the king of Ava invading Arracan, killing the king at the time, Manik Zadi, 

 Sankayang's grandson, and placing on the throne Manick Phalong's grandson, 

 Leyya, corresponds very closely with the account given in the Burmese history. 



The 32nd volume of the large Burmese History enumerates a list of tli,e kings o{ Arra- 

 can from the earliest times down to the date of the Burmese conquest in 1784. This 



* The four is aiade more like a six of the present style of writing — but Burmese scholars inform 

 me, that this numeral four was formerly often written as in this inscription. If we take the two 

 dates to be 667 and 668, the inscription cannot refer to any of the kings of Par/an, as that capital 

 was destroyed by the Chinese in the Burman year 646, A. D. 1284. 



