1836.] Tumour's Hist, of Ceylon, and Trans, of the Mahawanso. 407 



cular period (of this mission), a prince was born in a certain palace. 

 The inhabitants seeing the priests, and taking them to be the emissa- 

 ries of this rakkhasi, arming themselves, surrounded them for the pur- 

 pose of destroying them. The theros having ascertained what their 

 object was, thus addressed them : " We are pious ministers of religion, 

 and not the emissaries of the rakkhasi." The monster with her train 

 at this instant emerged from the ocean. Hearing of this (visitation), 

 this concourse of people gave a great shout of horror. The thero caus- 

 ing (by his power of working miracles) another band of terrifying 

 monsters to spring up, of double that numerical power, surrounded the 

 rakkhasi and her train on all sides. She, concluding " this land has 

 been appropriated by these," terrified, fled. Establishing the protecti- 

 on of the true faith over that land in all quarters, in that assembly 

 the thero preached the " brahmajala" discourse (of Buddho). A great 

 multitude of people attained the salvation and the state of piety of that 

 faith. 



" Sixty lacks became eminently endowed with the knowledge of its 

 doctrines. Two thousand five hundred men became priests, and one 

 thousand five hundred women, of various castes,*Vere admitted into the 

 priesthood. 



" From that period, the princes born in that palace obtained (from 

 Sono and Uttaro) the name of Sonuttaro. 



" These (disciples, following the example) of the all-compassionating 

 vanquisher's resignation (of his supreme beatitude), laying aside the 

 exalted state of happiness attained by them, for the benefit of mankind 

 undertook these missions to various countries. Who is there who 

 would demur (when) the salvation of the world (is at stake) ? 



" The twelfth chapter in the Mahawanso, entitled, " the conversion 

 of the several foreign countries," composed both to delight and to 

 afflict righteous men." p. 78—82. 



The foregoing extracts convey confessedly an imperfect idea of a 

 work which cannot but be one of much interest to the orientalist ; and 

 at the least estimate, a curiosity to the reading world at large. 



The present volume of Mr. Tumour, is, however, put forth to enable 

 him to ascertain whether oriental scholars approve of his undertaking, 

 as may be gathered from the following paragraph of the Introduction : 



" The whole publication will occupy two volumes quarto ; but I shall 

 not commence on the second, till I am satisfied, by the opinion express- 

 ed by orientalists on this pamphlet, that I have not, in my unassisted 

 judgment, been led to overrate the value of the " Mahawanso" gene- 

 rally. A glossary and a map will be published with the First Volume." 



Our own judgment of the Yalue of the work, may be gathered from 



