180 EXTRACTS from the JOURNALS of the BURMESE VUKEELS 



having summoned all the Nats in the ten millions and hundred thousand 

 worlds, (through which the authority of a Boodh is said to extend,) made a 

 solemn appeal in the following eight terms : — Boodh is truly excellent in 

 the three worlds (of Byamhas, Nats and Men). His precepts are excellent. 

 His disciples are excellent. (I) trust in Boodh. (I) trust in his precepts. 

 (I) trust in his disciples. (I) have always worshipped the three objects of 

 adoration (Boodh, his precepts, and his disciples), as well as kept the five 

 commandments (not to kill, steal, commit adultery, tell lies, or use intox- 

 icating substances). (I) have always been grateful to my royal master. 

 Proposing then to invite a piece from the western branch of Boodh's excel- 

 lent tree, to proceed to the Burmese kingdom, to the spot where religion 

 shines and where the protector of religion dwells, your Majesty's slave, 

 Mengyee Maha-tsee-thoo, walked round the tree from right to left and 

 poured out some rose water, when owing to the great virtues of your Ma- 

 jesty, worthy to be styled protector of religion, your slave beheld within 

 the brick platform of five gradations, which surround the body of the tree 

 as high up as the point where the branches strike off, what was wonderful, 

 never having happened before, most curious and most excellent, and what 

 contradicts the common saying, that a small peepul tree does not grow 

 under a large one : — it was a Boodh's adorable tree, of the size of a Chinese 

 needle with only four leaves, and evidently produced by and of the same 

 constituent part as (the large) Boodh's excellent tree. Delighted with joy, 

 your Majesty's slave repeated his solemn appeal, and carefully gathered this 

 plant. It is growing in (your slave's) possession, but in consequence of 

 the stem and leaves being very delicate and tender, it cannot now be 

 forwarded to your Majesty. (*") 



Appeals of this kind often making a future good or evil depend on a certain specific 

 condition, are very common — and the truth and virtue of the appellant are considered to be 

 proved, if any remarkable or unusual circumstance occurs, or if any event, which he desires, 



