40 
R H A 
encompassed underneath by the calyx. Seed solitary, the 
shape of the berry, “ furnished with albumen, and a double 
coat.” Brown. 
Labillardiere and Brown describe some flowers as wanting 
the stamens, others the pistil, though the rest have both. 
In this polygamous character, but especially in the 
nature of the fruit, which is a true hacca, this genus 
differs from Chenopodium, as well as from Kochia, 
and other neighbouring genera of Mr. Brown; see 
those articles. The stamens are sometimes fewer than 
five. Brown. 
Essential Character. —Calyx inferior, in five deep seg¬ 
ments. Corolla none. Berry depressed, encompassed with 
the permanent calyx. Seed solitary, orbicular, depressed. 
Some male or female flowers are interspersed. 
The species, all natives of New Holland, are generally 
shrubby, rarely herbaceous. Leaves almost always alternate, 
simple, often clothed with mealy powder. Flowers either 
spiked or conglomerated, destitute of bracteas. 
1. Rhagodia billardieri.—Stem shrubby, branched, five feet 
or more in height, with round, leafy branches, striated when 
dry. Leaves stalked, spreading, an inch and a half, or 
two inches, long, and one-third of an inch broad, sharpish; 
tapering at the base. Flowers small, greenish, in terminal, 
much compounded, or panicled, spikes. Berries red, about 
the size of mustard-seed. 
2. Rhagodia crassifolia.—Shrubby, erect, without thorns. 
Leaves .entire, oval, or linear-oblong, fleshy, convex and 
powdery beneath. Spikes branched. 
3. Rhagodia linifolia.—Somewhat shrubby, decumbent. 
Leaves entire, linear-lanceolate, flat, stamens one or two. 
4. Rhagodia hastata. — Somewhat shrubby, erect. 
Branches diffuse. Leaves nearly opposite, hastate, some¬ 
what rhomboid, entire, very smooth. Spikes terminal, 
leafless. 
5. Rhagodia parabolica. — Shrubby, erect, without 
spines. Leaves triangular, obtuse, powdery. Spike 
branched. 
6. Rhagodia spenescens.—Shrubby, erect; the young 
branches becoming spines. Leaves partly opposite, hastate, 
somewhat rhomboid, entire; powdery and hoary on both 
sides. Spikes simple. 
7. Rhagodia nutans.—Herbaceous, prostrate. Branches 
ascending when in fruit, drooping at the extremity. Leaves 
opposite, lanceolate-hastate, acute. 
The 4th is the only species cultivated in England. 
RHAGOIDES, ['Pa-yoeiSv;?, Gr.] In Anatomy, the second 
coat or tunic of the eye; more usually called uvea. 
It has its name rhagoides, as resembling a grape- 
stone. 
RIIAHAANS, a name given to the priests of the Birman 
empire, to whom are assigned kioums, or convents, which 
are different in their structure from common houses, and 
much resemble the architecture of the Chinese. The build¬ 
ings are constructed of wood; the roof is composed of 
different stages, supported by strong pillars; the inside com¬ 
prehends one large hall; the whole house is open at the 
sides; some are curiously carved with various symbolic 
representations of the divinity. There are no apartments 
for the private recreation of the Rhahaans; publicity being 
the prevailing system of conduct among the Birmans, who 
admit of no secrets either in church or state. From the 
number of convents in the neighbourhood of Rangoon, the 
Rhahaans and Phonghis, who are an iuferior order of priests 
called Tallapoins, are presumed by colonel Symes to exceed 
] 500; including in this estimate those in their novitiate. 
The age of induction into these convents, is generally from 
eight to twelve years, and young persons are introduced into 
them with great formality and ceremony. Parents vie with 
each other in obtaining this honour for their children, and 
spare no cost on the occasion of their admission ; the princi¬ 
pal charge consisting in entertainments, and the customary 
presents to the Rhahaans. When a boy is to be introduced 
into a convent, either as a temporary resident, or with a view 
to future consecration, his friends prepare their offerings of 
R H A 
cloth, rice, preserves, fruit, fans, cushions, mats, and’ 
household utensils. On an appointed day he parades the 
streets, dressed in yellow, and mounted on a horse richly 
caparisoned, led by two servants: a band of music goes 
before, and a party of Rhahaans encircle him : his male 
friends follow in a troop, and the females of their families 
bring up the rear, the latter carrying on their heads the offer¬ 
ings meant for the Rhahaans. Thus they proceed to the 
convent of which the novice is to become a member, where 
he is presented in form to the senior of the brotherhood. 
This ceremony is repeated three times, and at each peram¬ 
bulation, fresh presents are to be provided. 
The Rhahaans, like the Carmelites, go barefooted, and 
have their heads close shaven, on which they never wear any 
covering. Yellow is the only colour worn by the priest¬ 
hood they have a long loose cloak, which they wrap round 
them, so as to cover most part of the body; they profess- 
celibacy, and to abstain from every sensual indulgence. 
The prescribed punishment for a Rhahaan detected in an act 
of incontinence is, expulsion and public disgrace; the 
delinquent is seated on an ass, and his face daubed with black 
paint interspersed with spots of white; he is thus led through 
the streets, with a drum beating before him, and afterwards 
turned out of the city: but such instances of degradation are 
very rare. The juniors are restricted from wandering about 
licentiously, either by day or night. There is a prior in 
every convent, who has a discretionary power to grant per¬ 
mission to go abroad. 
The Rhahaans never dress their own victuals, holding it 
an abuse of time to perform any of the common functions of 
life, which, so long as they occupy, must divert them from 
the abstract contemplation of the divine essence. They 
receive the contributions of the laity ready cooked, and 
prefer cold food to hot. At the dawn of the morning they 
begin to perambulate the town, to collect supplies for the 
day : each convent sends forth a certain number of its mem¬ 
bers, who walk at a quick pace through the streets, sup¬ 
porting with the right arm a blue lackered box, in which 
the donations are deposited; these usually consist of boiled 
rice mixed with oil, dried and pickled dish, sweetmeats, 
fruit, &c. During their wralk, they never cast their eyes 
to the right nor to the left/but keep them fixed on the 
ground; they do not stop to solicit, and seldom even look 
at the donors, who appear more desirous to bestow, than the 
others to receive. The Rhahaans eat but once a day, at the 
hour of noon. A much larger quantity of provision being 
commonly procured than suffices for the members of the con¬ 
vent, the surplus is disposed of, as charitably as it was given, 
to the needy stranger, or the poor scholars who daily attend 
them to be instructed in letters, and taught their moral and 
religious duties. 
In the various commotions of the empire, Colonel Symes 
says, that the Rhahaans take no active share, nor do they 
publicly interfere in politics, or engage in war: by this pru¬ 
dent conduct they excite no resentment: the Birmans and 
Peguers professing the same religion, the conquerors, to 
whichsoever party they belonged, equally respected the 
ministers of their faith. The head of the Rhahaans at Ran¬ 
goon, called Seredaw, is treated with great veneration. He 
lives in a very handsome monastery half a mile from the 
town, on the road leading to Shoedagon, or temple. He 
is in no respect distinguished, as to his outward appearance, 
from the common Rhahaans. He goes every day, at the 
same hour to the temple, to offer his devotions, and per¬ 
forms the journey, which is about four miles, on foot. In 
his conversation with Symes he betrayed a worldly pride 
inconsistent with his years (being about seventy-five) and 
sacred function: he announced, with much pomp, that he 
was the head of the church at Rangoon, and ostentatiously 
displayed, engraven on iron plates, his sacerdotal titles, 
which had been conferred on him by the present and the 
late king. Formerly there werenunneries of virgin priestesses, 
who, like the Rhahaans, wore yellow garments, cut off their 
hair, and devoted themselves to chastity and religion; but 
these were not long ago abolished, as being injurious to 
the 
