28 6 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
ation in Burman chronology, a little singular in 
the East, and scarcely to be looked for among so 
rude a people. Contrary to my expectations, I 
was, indeed, informed in Ava, that the Burmese 
possessed some historical compositions, in which 
points of chronology were curiously discussed; 
or, at least, concerning which the writers, contrary 
to Oriental usage, thought it worth their while to 
pause and inquire. No doubt, there will be found 
much discrepancy in their early narratives; but 
the remarkable fact still remains, of so rude a peo¬ 
ple attempting at all to exercise their reason on 
such subjects. I have little doubt but that they 
have been led into this course by the numerous 
inscriptions, all, or almost all of them, bearing 
royal names and dates, which are scattered over 
the country; and the presence of which would 
always afford a ready refutation to the pretended 
chronologist, who consulted only his imagination. 
This spirit of inquiry is evinced in the following 
translations, which may be referred to, at least as 
objects of curiosity. 
“ 573. Jay a Sing’ha, otherwise called Ozana, 
and Nantaong-mya, or Ti-lo-men-lo. The year 
565, is thought by some to be the true era, be¬ 
cause it is mentioned that the spiritual guide of 
Jaya Sing’ha completed in that year a certain 
book ; but this circumstance is explained, by the 
fact of the king’s having exercised royal authority 
long before his father’s death ; and an inscription 
