152 -^iitohiography of Tsura Moung-Bo. [April 



The Piemen my master re-estal)lished me in my situation 

 of Toit-thooghee of Prome. My half-brother continued to 

 act for me, but I received the principal part of the emolu- 

 ments. The prince was some months afterwards called to 

 Amrapoora by the King, and I accompanied him. 



In the year 1152, I took orders as a Ruhan in the monas- 

 tery of Moung-doung the Isaradaughee where I remained 

 for three years. At my solicitation, I was permitted by the 

 Isaradaughee to visit my mother at Rangoon. At this 

 time I commenced studying the Talain language in the dif« 

 ferent monasteries about Rangoon and Pegue. I was engaged 

 by the Dalla Myothooghee to superintend the building of a 

 monastery in his district, and after the completion of it 

 took orders as a *Poggo. In this new monastery I staid 

 one year. I afterwards repaired to a monastery at Syriani 

 where I remained some months and then went to Martaban, 

 At the end of about three months residence at this latter 

 place, I again renounced the priest's garb and betook my- 

 self to secular empl^)yment. 



There was a friend of mine in Martaban a Tara-thooghee 

 or advocate with whom I lived. From him I borrowed two 

 hundred tickals of silver and turned merchant. I purchas- 

 ed merchandize of various descriptions, and proceeded to 

 the Thoung-yeen river which falls into the Salween. Here 

 I met with a Isaukai or chief of Kariens with whom I in- 

 tended to carry on my speculations, and we accordingly 

 performed the ceremony of " Tswaithouk" or drinking each 

 others blood. As this is a singular ceremony I will de- 

 scribe it. 



It is a custom amongst certain tribes of Kariens, fin order 

 to assure themselves of the fidelity, and fair dealing of those 

 with whom they are about to transact business, that the 

 contracting parties, in the presence of the assembled villa- 

 gers, should each prick the fore-finger of his right hand 

 with a needle, so as to draw blood. The finger is then held 

 over a small vessel of water and the drop of blood is allow- 

 ed to fall into it. If the drop diffuses itself immediately in 



* Poggo a high order of priesthood. 



t Kanens a race supposed to be the aborigines of the country, chiefly reside 

 on hiiis aud woody tracts. 



