i EYLON BRA XCTl — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 1<K* 



whole of the Tun-Pitakas as one book. They are in the 

 Singhalese or Elu, Pali, and Sanskrit languages, with a few 

 in Burmese and probably others in Siamese, as the priests 

 have intercourse with both these countries. The dialect in 

 which the Singhalese works are written is called Elu, and 

 differs considerably from the colloquial dialect both in struc- 

 ture and in the words that are used : but the native authorities 

 whom I have examined upon the subject are not agreed as 

 to the meaning of the word Elu, nor has the difference 

 between Elu and Singhalese been very well defined. 



The works in Pali consist principally of commentaries 

 upon the sacred canon, with other works in explanation 

 of these commentaries, and a considerable number are on 

 grammar. 



Of the works in Sanskrit, a few are on religious subjects, 

 and the others are upon grammar, medicine, and astrology. 

 The medical works are the most numerous, the more popu- 

 lar of these being accompanied by an explanation or para- 

 phrase in Singhalese. 



The works in Singhalese are on religion, grammar, his- 

 tory, and medicine ; and a considerable number are written 

 in verse. There are numerous sannes, or paraphrases of the 

 discourses of Budha, the Pali text being given, and then an 

 explanation, clause by clause, in Singhalese. In some in- 

 stances the sanne is a literal translation, and in others there 

 is a long commentary upon a single word. The poetical 

 works are principally legends. They are very popular among 

 the natives, who will sometimes sit up whole nights listen- 

 ing to their recitation. The Pansiya-panas-jataka-pota is the 

 most extensive work I have seen in Singhalese ; it extends 

 to upwards of 20,000 lines, each line being 22 inches long. 



The principal subjects upon which the native writers treat 

 are :— the various divisions of the universe ; the origin of 

 the present systems, with the manner in which they will be 

 destroyed ; the primitive condition of men, and their gradual 

 fall from purity to their present state ; the history of the 

 first monarch, and of his successors during many ages ; nu- 

 merous legends relative to the actions of Gotamo Budha, in 

 the births through which he passed previous to his acquire- 

 ment of the Budhaship ; the history of the Budhas imme- 

 diately preceding Gotamo; the birth of the prince Sidhartta, 

 the history of his ancestors and of his youth, the manner 

 in which he became a supreme Budha, the beauties of his 

 person, the manner of his life, the journeys that he under- 

 took, the discourses that he delivered, and the wonderful 

 acts that he performed, with the manner of his death : ex- 



