32 
Sir Arthur P. Pliayre —On the History of Pegu. 
[No. 1, 
foreigners it was called, in the Mun language, Kyaik-tsa-ne, and in Burmese 
Banaung-myin-phraA The city was founded in the year of the lord’s Nirva¬ 
na 1116, being equivalent to A. D. 573. Tha-ma-la Kumma, the elder of 
the two brothers, was now consecrated king. 
In the story of the foundation of the city of Pegu, and the events which 
led to it, we appear to have the legendary version of the struggle for ascend¬ 
ancy between Brahman and Budhist. This struggle was still going on in 
parts of Southern India in the sixth century of the Christian era, and it 
would no doubt be extended to the colonies and settlements on the coast of 
Kamanya. The kings of Tha-litun and the principal citizens were of Indian 
descent, and they probably participated in the changes which were going on 
in the parent country. The foundation of Pegu, by emigrants of Tha-litun, 
tells both of a dynastic and perhaps a religious quarrel. The Budhist party 
eventually successful, represent the founders of Pegu as being of their faith, 
and their opponents as heretics and foreigners, though the latter reproach 
was probably the feeling of a later period. One cause of the separation for 
Tha-litun appears to have been the Naga, dragon or snake, worship, which, 
as has been shown by Mr. Fergusson in his learned work, extensively pre¬ 
vailed about this time in India ; and the founders of Pegu are stated to 
have been of Naga descent or, in other words, had added snake worship to 
the reverence, which, by the precepts of Budhism, should be shown only to 
the memory or relics of Budha. If this be so, the reform in their worship 
was made, as was the case in Burma, at a later period. From tradition and 
such scanty historical notices as have survived, we are led to look to the 
east coast of India, and especially to the country in the lower courses 
of the rivers Kistna and Godavari, with the adjoining districts, in other 
words ancient Kalinga and Talingana, as the countries which at a very 
early period traded with and colonized the coast of Pegu. The people of 
Pegu are known to the Burmese, to the Indians, tod thence to Europeans, 
by the name Talaing. This word is derived from Talingana, and the name 
which was strictly applicable only to the foreign settlers, has in the course 
of time become applied to the whole people. As has already been stated, 
they call themselves Mon, Mun, or Mwun, a word which will hereafter be 
considered. The names given in the histories of Tha-litun and Pegu to the 
first kings of those cities are Indian ; but they cannot be accepted as being 
historically true. The countries from which the kings are said to have de¬ 
rived their origin are Karannaka, Kalinga, Tliubinga, and Bij-ja-na-ga-ran. 
These may be recognised as Karnuta, Kalinga, Yenga, and Vizianagaram, 
on the south-eastern coast of India. The last has, in after times, probably 
* The classic name of the city Hen-tha-wa-ti, or Han-sa-wa-ti, has already been 
explained. The common name, Pegu or Ba-go, is said to mean in the Mun language 
“ conquered by stratagem,” alluding to the incident above related. 
