XXX. 



authority amongst the Burmese, which Captain Broune believes to 

 have been originally brought from Ceylon. To assist in the enquiry, 

 he enclosed the following 



Memorandum on the Laws of Menu. 



" Among the literature of Burmah there exists a book entitled 

 4 Manoo-Kyay-Dharma-That.' (TheDharma Sastra of Manoo.) This 

 book, together with much matter that is now entirely obsolete and 

 useless, and much indeed that could never have been in force in Burmah, 

 contains many provisions which constitute the lex loci of Barman, as 

 regards inheritance, marriage, adoption, divorce, &c, &c. 



Much of the book has been translated from the Pali, but there 

 are other passages which seem to have been interpolated in more modern 

 days ; and there are others again whose origin cannot be fixed with 

 any degree of certainty. None of it corresponds with the ' Institutes 

 of Manoo,' as translated from the Sanscrit. The original ground- work 

 of the book was no doubt at some time brought to this country from 

 Ceylon ; and it will be useful and interesting to ascertain whether 

 there is still extant among the Pali literature of that Island any work 

 at all corresponding with the Burman ' Laws of Manoo.' The different 

 copies of this book as found among the palm leaf libraries of the 

 Burman monks, vary considerably ; the editors and copyists having 

 from time to time made omissions, amplifications, and additions, to suit 

 their own opinions or purposes. About twenty years ago, the best 

 obtainable edition was printed for the use of the judicial officers of 

 this Province. The following is a slight sketch of the contents of the 

 work, which may be sufficient to identify it with the original, if that 

 still exists in Ceylon. The work commences with a description of 

 the Genesis of the present world, taken, as is stated in the work, from 

 the Melinda pinya. It describes the gradual creation of the solar system ; 

 the first appearance of mankind, who at first had no fleshly appetites 

 no need for eating, and no distinction of sex among them, and their 

 gradual degeneration, till at last it was found necessary to erect a 

 ruler in the earth, to keep in check the evil passions of its inhabit- 



