has an appropriate meaning, such as “ great ka,” “ spiral ka,” circular
za,” kc. but some of these characters are very rarely used, such as No. 4,
9* I I , 1$, IS* 14, 45, IS* g&.«id.SSkhr
To this alphabet is added the Shanscrit elementary character, analogous
to each o f the Birman characters; also the Birman cyphers, and a specimen
of the ancient Pad, taken from a" very beautiful manuscript iii fny
possession, which contains an account o f the ceremony used in the consecration
ofRhahaans.* 9
... It is difficult to ascertain with precision the exact limits of theBirnian
empire. Dr. Buchanan, who accompanied me, sought for geographical
information with the most diligent inquiry'; he prricured, but not without
considerable trouble and expence, sketches of every part of t6 s Birman
territories; and he has transmitted the materiak which he # J iS ^ t e # e d
to the East-India Company. Those sketches, however,: being^contained
in various and detached pieces, not forming any connected body, oor .yet
reduced to a graduated scale, can hardly be brought M o the shape d f i
regular map without the aid of some further communications; they are
nevertheless documents o f much intrinsic value and importance ; it is
therefore to be hoped that, with, the aid of some additional lights, a vacuum
on the terrestrial globe will, ere long, be filled up, and a portion o f the
earth delineated, which heretofore has been very imperfectly known. lOn
a probable calculation from Dr. Buchanan’s papers o f the extent o f the
present Birman empire, it appears to include the space between the 9th
and 26th degrees o f north latitude, and between the.92d and 10,7th degrees
of longitude east of Greenwich, about 1050 geographical miles in length,
and -600 in breadth: these are the ascertainable limits, taken from the
* I am indebted for the Shanscrit character, to the kindness of my friend Mr. Wilkins.