CEYLON BRANCH ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 103 



soever, who having engaged to live according to the laws of 

 priesthood, and not having made confession of his weakness, 

 and withdrawn from them, shall have sexual intercourse, even 

 with an animal, he is overcome and is excluded." 



The permission to retire from the priesthood, is not con- 

 fined to those who confess their inability to live continently, 

 but extends to all kinds of reasons : the following are among 

 those stated in the explanation given of the words of the 

 law, the meaning of every word in each law being defined : 

 He may say, I am not able to control my sensual propensities, 

 or I am too proud to submit to the rules, or I wish to return 

 to agricultural and other employments, or I am dissatisfied 

 with the investigation of character in the Pratimoksha, or I 

 have parents and friends whom I wish to support, or I wish to 

 be only a private disciple of Budha, or I wish to embrace 

 another religion ; and for these, or for any other reason, he 

 may withdraw from the priesthood without any stain to his 

 character, and at any future period may be re-admitted, if he 

 feel so inclined. He must however declare his renunciation 

 deliberately, and before competent authority. 



This gives the reason, why in Budhistical countries, as 

 Burmah, so many are represented as having been priests in 

 their youths ; they were thus enabled to devote the whole of 

 their time to study, and might on any day withdraw from 

 the monastical engagements to which they had submitted 

 themselves. In Ceylon there are many instances of a similar 

 kind. 



The laws are illustrated in considerable detail, and a report 

 of adjudged cases is appended to each law requiring elucida- 

 tion. The nature of that under consideration, renders quo- 

 tation unadvisable. The crime as defined, may be com- 

 mitted with 1, females : viz. ©^ss8«5§ women : 

 goddesses and demons, and €3dB&o<&iza €3«5S female animals. 

 Three paths are specified by which the crime may be com- 

 mitted with a female, pudendum, anus, os. 



