16 On the Code and Historical MSS. of the Siamese, [JuLtf 



of the Javans, who is supposed to have introduced a new form of let* 

 ters and religion into Java A. D. 75, and from whose arrival on their 

 island the Javans date their era, was probably a Buddhist priest of 

 peculiar sanctity from India, cotemporary with Salivahdna Saca him- 

 self, who flourished and introduced into India at this period the era of 

 Salivahdna, a name by which he was distinguished among the six 

 Sacas, who give their names to the six periods, into which the Calu 

 yug is divided. Saca, in Sanscrit, literally signifies an age or era ; but, 

 according to Wilford,* the six periods are called sacas, because they 

 divide their origin from these six monarchs. 



The leading doctrines of the metempsychosis, preservation of animal 

 life, and of the Nirvana, or future state of rest, will be found to assi- 

 milate in these nations, and they all look forward to the advent of 

 another and final appearance of Buddha upon earth. The Brahmins 

 in a similar manner look forward to the accomplishment of the 9th 

 and last avatar of Vishnu, viz. that of Calci who will appear, they 

 say, for the destruction of all the impure with a cimeter like a blazing 

 comet. The Buddhists of China believe O-mi-to (Amida) Fuh to 

 have past, Sheh-kea (Sacya) Fuh to have last appeared, and Me-lih 

 Fuh is yet to come. 



It would not suit the limits I had set to this paper to enter into a 

 critical examination of the differences existing in the metaphysics and 

 external religious forms and observances of the Jainas of India and 

 the Buddhists of Ceylon, the Indo-Chinese nations and China ; suffice 

 to observe that I consider them to have originally sprung from one 

 source, and to express my conviction that a careful consideration of 

 the various habits — the peculiar positions, geographical and political, 

 the prior existing religions, and subsequent influential causes operating 

 upon these nations, will serve in a great measure to account for the 

 present variations. In all future researches into the dogmas of these 

 sects, the viva voce evidence of the priests should be received with 

 great caution, and checked by constant reference and comparison with 

 that contained in their sacred books. 



Ancient inscriptions should be collected and every precaution taken 

 to secure Buddha MSS. free from Brahminical taint, written in the 

 original Pracrit or Pali. A comparative view of Brahminical and 

 Buddha chronology is still a desideratum. The genius of a Cole- 

 brooke itself was bewildered in the chaos of 2,000,000,000,000,000 

 oceans of years, contained in the Avasarpini and Utsaipi?ii divisions 

 of time. 



* As. Res. vol. IX. page 8a. 



