197 
TOPOGRAPHY OF INDIA. 
COMPILED FROM VARIOUS WORKS AND MANUSCRIPTS, 
BY THE EDITOR. 
THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ARRAKAN. 
It is difficult to please every class of our readers, and being apprehensive 
that the historical portion of our Topography may be deemed irrelevant to a 
Medical Journal, we shall give this portion of our labours to the Scientific 
Journal, and that which relates to 
Medical. 
ARRACAN' 
(Continued from -page \4Q.) 
They live partly in houses of their own, and 
on their estates ; partly in cloisters, which 
are founded by their king, or great men (T), 
and generally very sumptuous : but they are 
all subject to one spiritual head, as before- 
mentioned, By them the children, both of 
the nobility and gentry, are educated in the 
knowledge of their religion'and laws : and they 
are said to be exceeding hospitable to strang- 
ers. They have among them many hermits, 
like the Joghis, of the western parts of India ; 
who are distinguished into three kinds or or- 
ders, named Grepi, Alanigrepi, and Taligrepi 
(U). These inflict on themselves very rigo- 
rous penances ; for which they are held in 
great esteem among the people.* 
The government of Arrakan is chiefly in 
the hands of the twelve princes before-men- 
tioned ; who are honoured with the title of 
kings, residing in the principal cities, in 
twelve royal palaces, with each a great serag- 
lio, as well for their women, as those they 
educate for the king of all the rest, who keeps 
his court in the city of Arrakan. 
This monarch affects as lofty titles as any 
of his neighbours ; stiling himself Emperor q/ 
Arrakan, possessor 0 / tke white elephant (Xj, 
with the two Kenekas, and, by virtue of them, 
rightful heir of Pegu and Brama. Lord of 
the twelve Boyoni of Bengal ; and of the 
twelve kings (meaning those in Arrakan) 
who lay the highest hair of their heads under 
the soles of his feet. His usual residence is in 
the city of Arrakan, but it is customary with 
* Oviiiat. p. 577, & spq. 
(!') Schoutin, p. 3.S6, says, their houses are 
either near the pa-jofls, on rocks, or on little bills ; 
where they live like hermits, sequestered from the 
world. Although their air and gait is modest, yet 
one may discover pride in it. 
(U) These names seem to be taken from Mendez 
Pinto- Other authors call them in general Tali 
poi, or Talipoins. 
(X) This famous white elephant was wrested 
from the king of Siam, by him of Pegu, in 1567. 
It was taken by the king of Tangu, at the surrend- 
er of Pegu city, in 1599, and delivered to the king 
of Arrakan soon alter. 
climate, situation, diseases, &c. to the 
him in summer to spend two months in a kind 
of progress by water to Orietan. In which 
he is attended by his nobility, in boats so art- 
fully contrived and disposed that they appear 
rather like a floating palace or city than what 
they are. In this progress he does not omit to 
administer justice ; but hears causes as regu- 
larly as when at land. One pretence for this 
maritime journey is to visit the pagod of Quiay 
Poragray, their su preme deity ; to whom he 
daily sends a sumptuous dinner. 
This, among many instances, shews, the 
kings of Arrd/can to be very superstitious ; and 
this superstition frequently leads them into 
acts of the greatest barbarity. 7bsi relates of 
one of them, that, being told he could not 
long survive bis coronation, which is perform- 
ed with the greatest pomp, he putit off, al- 
though the high-priest was already setting, the 
crown on his head ; nor would admit that 
ceremony for the space of twelve years: but, 
being pressed to it by his lords, and not able 
to deter it any longer, he consulted a 33o- 
hammedan, to know whether there was any 
way to avert the omen. 1 he Musulmun, witir 
an intent, it is said, to destroy those whom he 
reckoned enemies of his religion, tcfld the king, 
that an electuary made of hearts, wherein 
were to be 6000 belonging to his subjects, 
4000 of white cows, and *2000 of white doves, 
would protect him from the threatened dan- 
ger. The king, relying upon this false infor- 
mation, built a house, the foundations where- 
of, to render it still more auspicious, were 
laid upon women great with child : and, on 
that occasion, sacrificed no fewer than 
18,000 innocent persons, with a view to pre- 
serve his own life.* 
We meet with no account of the descent of 
the kings of A'“rakan ; but we learn from au- 
thors, that, to preserve the blood unmixed, 
they are obliged to marry their eldest sisters. f 
This monarch scarce ever goes out of his 
palace, above once in five years when he 
does it with great solemnity ; but passes his 
life there with his queen, and a great number of 
♦ Ovingt. p. 579, & seq. 
t Tosi ap. Oviimt. p. 682. 
Metholrt ap, Puicli. Pili:r. vol. .5, p.l0O5. 
iX) Except we suppose in Ills progress, a* afore- 
said. 
