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APPENDIX. 
IX. 
Some Account of the Cingalese Casts, as given me by my respectable 
and learned friend, Mr. Tolfrey. 
The epoch in which we now are is called the Mahabadre Calpaya,* 
previous to which there had been consumed by fire, a thousand 
millions of millions of sackvals, or worlds. Two only remained, 
the world of Brachma in the highest region, and the world of winds 
in the lowest. All living creatures having been destroyed with the 
sackvals that were consumed, they were regenerated in the upper- 
most region and became Brachmas, without any distinction of cast. 
Some of these Brachmas returned to the sackvals they had formerly 
inhabited, on their being reproduced, but from avarice degenerated 
to such a degree that they began to steal. Upon this quarrels arose 
among them, and there being no chief to decide these disputes, 
their wise men reflected that the world would not be in a proper 
state without some kind of government. Upon this they met and 
selected from among them a person renowned lor wisdom, whom 
* Mahabadre Calpaj'a. The Cingalese have two modes of computing the duration 
of this period. Five Antagh kalpas make one Mahabadre kalpee. In the course of 
one thousand years the earth increases in height one finger's breadth, A span, 
viyata, (or twelve fingers breadths) make one riyana, (or cubit). Seven riyans make 
one yate. Twenty yata make one assumba ; eighty assuraba make one kosa, four kosa 
make one gouwa, and seven and a half gouwa, one antah kalpa. Or, there is a stone 
four cubits square: a god dressed in white muslin passes this stone once in a hundred 
years ; the muslin robe waved by the wind touv;hes this stone as it passes ; when, 
by the attrition this occasions, the stone shall have been reduced to the size of a grain 
of mustard, one antagh kalp6 will have elapsed. 
