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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1892.
Hanbawadi S'inbyayin known to European writers as Branginoco," Yazadarit,** and Dhammacheti, Traces of a double wall and moat are also seen, the walls being in good condition.
I have now traversed through the whole of the ancient Talaing Kingdom of Ramannadêsa proper. The stone inscriptions are the chief of many objects of archæological value and should, if practicable, for the purpose of preservation, be removed to the Phayre Museum at Rangoon. In the case, however, of inscriptions, whose size and weight render their removal to Rangoon unadvisable, they should be collected at some convenient and central place and arrangements should be made to protect them from the weather. If they remain in situ they are liable to become defaced or weather-worn. Manuscripts of historical interest are extremely carce; the architectural structures have in too many cases been renovated in the modern tyle; and the religious buildings worthy of conservation are being looked after by the people. No true stúpas or topes, like those of India, were met with, and the enquiries instituted failed to clicit any information regarding the existence of any records, lithic or otherwise, in the Asöka character. The absence of any records in this character, both in Ramaññadéśa and at Pagàn, whither it is supposed the Burmese conquerors removed their spoils of war, throws considerable doubt on the authenticity of the account relating to the mission of Soņa and Uttara at the conclusion of the Third Council, as stated in the Mah&vamsa and other Buddhist books. The question, however, may be considered to be an open one, until the information afforded by Talaing, Cambodian, and Siamese records, shall have helped its solution.
* ("Branginoco" represents the title Bayin Naung, perhaps then pronounced Bharin Nông. It is spelt Bhuran Nón.-ED.]
[This word Yaddarit is spelt Rijdirdj and seems to clearly equal Rajadhirga. I may as well note that Yuz0-di-badi, Nara-di-badi, Send-di-badi, and similar titles in books about Burma are simply the familiar Rajadhipati, Naradhipati, Senadhipati, etc., in disguise. The Di-ba-di title, which has puzzled so many writers, is really always the latter part of some title, which includes the term adhipati, ruler, regent, king,' and means that the holder called himself 'overlord of
whatever the first part of the word might mean.-ED.]
