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118
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
At p. 158 there is a chance note by Taw Sein Ko himself, which curiously confirms all that has been written by myself (ante, Vol. XXVI. p. 325 ff.) on the subject of the derivation of bo(1). In giving a description of the Burmese notions of the classical svayamvara (pángônzutpuè, garland-placing ceremony) in the form of stringing and unstringing the mighty bow (lédinbwè, bow-stretching ceremony), he says: "Difference of opinion exists as to the right interpretation of the expression, bô(1) aché tat'aung tin'naingò lé. B5(1)30 is evidently the Burmanised form of the Pâli bala, strength, an army: ché means the sum total. Thus the phrase would mean, a bow (lés) that can be strung and unstrung (tin'naingo) by the collective strength (bo(1) ache) of 1,000 warriors. This is one version of the interpretation. The other is that bo(1) should be read po, a five tickal weight, and that the meaning should be:a bow that can support without breaking the weight of 2,500 tickals at either end (ból) aché tataung). The former rendering should be adopted, bearing in mind that Oriental writers take a delight in the use of hyperbole."
(1) 50 phalas (2) 30 phalas (3) Same as No.
(4) 33 phalas:
I think that one may now without hesitancy assert positively that bo(1), with the alternative spelling po, is the Sanskrit pala, Pali, phala; and that as a matter of practical calculation it represented of old in Burma a five tickal weight. On this assumption we can proceed to reduce statements in phalas, and perhaps tulas, to European weight denominations and values with some hope of approximate success.
=
In this way the value of the four gifts of golden articles sent by Dhammachêti to Bhûvanêkabâhn can be stated as follows, assuming that 1 phala 5 tickals: 100 tickals = 1 viss: 1 viss 3.65 lbs. Av.: 1 lb. of gold = £60,31 Then:
250 tickals = =2 viss 150 tickals 1 viss: 2 = £328.5.
same as Nos. 2 and 3+1-10th
[MAY, 1898.
9-125 lbs. Av. £549-5. 5.475 lbs. Av. = £328.5.
= £328-532-85 = £361-35.
As to the gifts valued in silver, perhaps the best way to reckon their value will be to assume that silver was to gold as about one to ten at that time, and to proceed to reckon as for gold dividing the result by ten, thus: -
(5) 200 phalas of silver
20 phalas of gold = 100 tickals 1 viss =
= £219.
(6) 430 phalas of silver 43 phalas of gold 215 tickals =2.15 viss
= £465.
3.65 lbs. Av.
7.75 lbs. Av.
So that the value of the gifts would be £2,251-85, and if it is to be accepted that the purchasing power of gold in the XVth Century, A. D., was several times greater than its present purchasing power, the value of the presents was sufficiently large.
It is interesting here to work out the value of the gifts stated in the contemporary (1454 A. D.) Burmese Inscription at the Mahamuni Shrine near Amarapura, translated by Jadson and quoted above. The values are all stated in tickals. Thus: -
(1) 4,600 tickals of pure silver
460 tickals of gold
= 4-6 viss
£1,007.4. (2) 100 tickals of gold: 1 viss = 3.65 lbs. Av. = £219. 3.65 X 30 (3) 300 tickals of silver- 30 tickals of gold 100
= £65.7.
16.79 lbs. Av.
lbs. Av. 1.095 lbs. Av.
: The now familiar Anglo-Burmese word boh, a leader of dacoits (bandits, outlaws, gang-robbers). 175 lbs. Troy, therefore, for rough calculation,
31 This last assumption I have arrived at thus: 144 lbs. Av.
1 lb. Av.1 lb. Troy, and vice versa, 1 lb. Troy lb. Av. Gold by value is about £4 to the ounce Troy, therefore £48 to the lb. Troy, therefore the value of 1 lb. Av. of gold of £48 £60. The existing £ runs 9343 to 20 lbs. Troy, so that 1 lb. Troy = £46 148, 6d. As the quality of the metal in the inscriptions is never mentioned, the calculations in the text are near enough.
