104 GEYLOiS BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



planations of the precepts, and legends relative to the re* 

 wards received by those who have obeyed them or the mis- 

 fortunes that have overtaken those who have despised them ; 

 the commands imposed upon the priesthood, the discipline to 

 which they are subject, and the mysterious powers obtained 

 by those who become perfectly pure and are not subject to a 

 repetition of existence ; disquisitions upon such subjects as 

 karma, or moral action, whether good or evil, by which 

 the universe is governed and the destiny of all beings con- 

 trolled, and arguments to prove the impermanence of the 

 body and the non-existence of a separate and immortal soul ; 

 and descriptions of the dewa-lokas and brahama-lokas, the 

 various states and places of suffering, and nirwana, or the 

 cessation of existence. 



It is almost a misnomer to speak of the literature of the 

 Singhalese, as nearly all their works are either translations 

 or paraphrases. Not unfrequently the whole of the differ- 

 ence between one work and another consists only in the style 

 and arrangement. This similarity soon offends the student 

 and deters him from the further prosecution of his research- 

 es. There is sometimes a long series of epithets attached 

 to the name of Budha, and the same epithets are repeated 

 again and again, almost without any variation throughout 

 the whole of the work. Upon the authority of Sir William. 

 Jones the Asiatics have usually been regarded as " soaring 

 to loftier nights in the sphere of imagination " then Euro- 

 peans ; but the works of the Singhalese cannot be included 

 in this category, as their creative powers appear to be ex- 

 tremely feeble, even in the discussion of subjects about 

 which they must necessarily have a perfect understanding, 

 and which in themselves naturally tend to induce the exer- 

 cise of the imagination. 



It is with extreme regret that I speak in these terms of 

 disparagement of the native authors, as I have spent much 

 time in the study of their writings, and once supposed that 

 they contained more valuable matter than on examination 

 they have presented. They are principally of importance 

 as media by which we can ascertain the light in which the 

 tenets of Budhism are here regarded ; and I trust the lan- 

 guage thus preserved and perfected, the sound of which 

 falls not unpleasantly upon the ear, whilst it admits of great 

 beauty and force of expression, will one day be consecrated 

 to the noble purpose of teaching the sublimest lessons of 

 Christianity, and of raising the people around us to a high^ 

 state of excellence in science, taste, and social order. 

 Neqombo, August 15, 1846. 



