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104
BIBMAH.
peared, including Godama, whose exaltation is
continue till the expiration of 5000 years, 2,368
to
of
which have now expired. Another saint will then
obtain the ascendancy and be deified.
The introduction of Buddhism into Indo-China appears
to have been through different channels, from
Bengal and Assam, from Ceylon, and from China. It
is evident that it must have had a footing in Birmah,
before Budha-Gosha was deputed to visit the sacred
isle to copy the Jatits. In fact, it must have been
brought into the country with the first Pali emigration
consequent on the overthrow of the Boudhic
dynasty in Magadha, supposed to be 300 years B.C.,
even if it had not previously extended over these
countries. It is highly remarkable, however, that the
Birman era carries us up no higher than A.D. 638.
This era is said to be that used by the' astronomers of
Siam, from whom, first the Taliens of Pegu, and then
the Birmans are supposed, with great probability, to
have adopted it.* The Siamese, there is reason to
think, derived their religious lore and language from
Laos on the borders of Yun-nan : in other words, they
derived it from China.f But the worship of Fohi or
* " Wheace the Birmans date their era, I could not learn worn
them. The akunwoon of the province of Pegu, the most intelligent
man with whom we conversed, did not seem to know. He said,
that whenever the king thought the years of the era too many, he
changed it. The fact, I believe, is, that the era commencing in
our year 638, is that used by the astronomers of Siam, and from
them, as a more polished nation, it has passed to the Birmans,
whose pride hindered them from acknowledging the truth."
Atiat. Res., vol. vi. p. 171.
t " It is from this nation " (the Laws or Laos,) " that both the
Birmans and Siamese allege they derive their laws, religion, and
institutions. It is in the country of the Laos that all the celebrated
founders of the religion of Buddha are represented to have left
their most remarkable vestiges. Ceylon boasts the sacred traces