34 



After this he puts on the garment, and makes obeisance to the 



other priests. 



He who does this is not to eat with the rest, but to keep himself 

 secluded. 



NOTES. 



(1) This is a writing in the Pali language and character, and re- 

 lates to the instalment of persons into the priesthood, their proba- 

 tionary course for it, and prescribed line of conduct after admission. 

 To get at its meaning it was necessary for the original to undergo 

 several transformations ; first, from the pure Pali into a mixture of 

 Pali and Burman, then into pure Burman,* and from that it was 

 taken down verbally in a sort of English, resembling Burman in its 

 inverted structure, before ba^ng brought into its present form. 



The leaves of books of thiSf, kind are mostly made from the 

 leaves of a large species of palmyra; but these being seldom broad 

 enough, are artfully jo ned in the middle length-wise, sewn together 

 with silk, and lackered over. On the lackered surface the writing 

 is made, and the gilding laid on, the leaf is afterwards rubbed with 

 a wet cloth ; and on account of there being a mixture of yellow 

 orpiment in the ink, the gilding does not adhere closely to the 

 whole surface, but readily parts from the writing and lets it appear. 

 It does not seem as if the leaves of this bookf were made from two 

 pieces joined ; it is more probable that, as it was to be a royal of- 

 fering, leaves of the largest size were sought for to make it up from. 

 A tree that bears such is " one of a thousand;" and the people 

 have a saying, that for every one of this kind that is found a man 

 learned in the sacred writings also appears. These trees, also, are 

 royalties. 



(2) This writing was offered by Sane-pyoo-shane, the third of 

 the Alown Purra ( Alompra) dynasty, and second son of its foun- 

 der. The dedication appears, both at the beginning and end of the 

 book, in handsome gilt characters. This king ascended the throne 

 in the year 1134 of the era of Gaudama, and died in 1138 ; the 

 present year, A. D. 1827, is 1188, of that era : the book must 

 therefore be at least fifty years old. 



(3) The title consists of fifteen syllables, or rather Pali words. 

 This is one of the longest that a king can have ; the heir apparent 



* Which was done by a learned native, 

 t The book in question belonged to Mr. Heward, of Madras, and was 

 intended for Sir C. Grey. Great numbers having been found in the mo- 

 nasteries during the Burman war, it is probable that many were taken ta 

 England. Some were made of large plates of ivory. 



