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98
laid on the Jatiis,
B1RMAH.
or histories of the ten incar-
nations, Buddha, prior to his first incarnation as
Teinee, had, at a remote period, reigned in Varanusee
(Benares) twenty years, and after an interval of
80,000 years, had been born and lived in Tavutingsa
(Ceylon?). This Maha-Satwa (great Saint), orBoodhii
Sutwu, as he is called, would seem, indeed, at all
events, not to be the first Buddha; but his earliest
appearance is placed in Bahar. It is more to the pur-
pose to remark, that the Cingalese admit that they
received their religion from the hands of a stranger ;
and Mr. Ward thinks, that it was probably propagated
in the Birman empire soon after its reception in Ceylon,
that is, about four hundred and fifty years after
Buddha's death. "The Birmans believe, that six
hundred and fifty years after that event (about A.D.
107), in the reign of Maha-moonee, a bramhun, named
Buddha- Ghosha, was sent to Ceylon, to copy the
Vishooddhimargu, which includes all the Jatus, or
histories of the incarnations of Buddha. Since then,
many Birmans have translated and commented on
these writings. In a work entitled "The great Hi-
story of the Birman and Pegu Kings,' it is recorded,
that, during the T'hiooru-kshutriyu dynasty, no fewer
than fifty-five translations were made, and as many
comments written on these books. But the Birmans
are believed to possess works of higher antiquity than
the Jatus." *
There can be, we think, no doubt, that India, and
that part of India which formed the kingdom of Ma-
gadha, or Benares, has the best claim to the honour of
having given birth to Buddha Guadama. In fact, both
Booddhu and Goutumii would seem, from the following
account, given by Mr. Ward from Sanscrit documents,
* Ward, vol. ii p. 211.