Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/15

1837.] determined to make a brazen image of it. One of the workmen employed in casting the image, offended one of the kings, who struck him and wounded his forefinger. The power of fate following this act of the king, destroyed one of the fingers of the image. This king proposed to replace it, but one of the priests dissuaded him, and by his knowledge of futurity prophesied that at some future time the statue should be conveyed on the great sea (the bay of Bengal), to the extremity of its waters, where a great king should replace the deficient finger.

"In the year 700 of the Buddhist era, there was a mighty monarch governing Siam, whose capital was Soökcoty; his fame extended from the Ganges to China, and from the extreme north to the ocean (gulf of Siam). He had heard of this famous image in Ceylon, and wished to sacrifice to it: and to effect this he employed the rajah of Ligore to send an embassy and beg it of the Ceylonese king. That king being reminded of the ancient prophecy consented. On the passage back, the ship was sunk, and all the seamen perished; but the image, possessed of innate glory (which is proved at large in the Buddhist books), floated towards the country of Ligore, seated on the back of the great ocean (bay of Bengal). The rajah, admonished of the fact by a taywadah, who appeared to him in a dream, sent vessels to receive it, and prepared a great abundance of offerings (which, after being presented, he was careful to take away). The image being so graciously received, made a display of its wonderful power, by rising of itself, and floating about in the air. Astonished at this, the rajah hastened to inform the monarch of Siam, who after innumerable offerings conveyed it to his capital." It may be remarked that the idol was received at Ligore, where mention is made by Leyden, of a very ancient temple alluded to in the early part of this note.

The Siamese, according to Leyden, have also traditions that their religion was introduced from Laos; but until the ancient records of this nation and of the T′hay J′hay tribe can be examined, we must be content with the inference that they were indebted for their religion to Ceylon, about the 2d century of the Christian era.

Laos, Cambodia, Cochin China, and Tonquin. Regarding its introduction into the countries lying between Siam and China, viz. Laos, Cambodia, Cochin China and Tonquin, little is known. The records and sacred languages of these singular countries, are yet desiderata. Leyden states, that it is in the country of Lán or Laos, that all the celebrated founders of the religion of Buddha are represented to have left their most remarkable vestiges. Ceylon boasts of the sacred traces of the left foot of Buddha, on the top of the mountain Amála-