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OCTOBER, 1926 ]
THE GREAT BÉLL AT RANGOON
193
Our correspondent continues: “I went into the subject of Burmese bells some time ago to settle a question of the Burmese method of gauging weight and the following quotations may be of use to those who have libraries and wish to read up details on this interesting Bubject. Laurie's Second Burmese War, Rangoon, p. 126; Bigandet's Gaudama, Trubner's edition, vol. 1, p. 74, foot-note; Malcom's Travels, vol. I, p. 247; Yule's Ava, p. 171 ; Strettell's Ficus Elastica, p. 48; Colquhoun's Amongst the Shans, p. 138, but this last only describes a fabulous bell at Zimme said to weigh 183 tons. The Myingun Bell near Mandalay weighs only 80 tons."
This was followed in the Weekly Budget (2nd May 1896) by a letter from Maulmein, dated 27th April 1896, by a correspondent, who signed himself " Another Old Resident :" "I am glad to learn, from your issue of 24th instant, that Mr. Hesketh Biggs has inserted in his book a correction of the statement about the sinking of the great bell in the Rangoon river. Shway Yoe should make a similar correction of his errors. By following Captain Forbes he has created confusion. In chapter XV on Pagodas, he says that the Maha Ganda, the bell which the English attempted to take away after the second Burmese war, was presented by King Tharrawaddy in 1840 on the occasion of a state visit to Rangoon and the pyah.' No bell was presented in 1840, but one was cast, by order of the King, in February 1843, particulars of which were given in the extracts from the Maulmain Chronicle which I sent with my letter of 20th February 3 The Maha Ganda was cast some years before. The inscription on it states the date, the weight and dimensions, viz., “Year of the establishment of religion 2322, era 1140,4 11th day of the waxing of the moon Ta-bo-dwe, after the 3rd Watch, the position of the stars being propitious, with metal weighing 15,555 piek-tha, dia meter 5 cubits, height 7 cubits 12 inches, circumference 15 cubits, thickness 12 inches, the bell is cast, and to the Monument of the Divine Hair the King presents an act of homage.' The bell was ordered to be cast in 1138 (B.E.), and the casting was only completed in 1140. The Editor of the Chronicle said in the issue of 29th March 1843, that the former date was "about seventy years ago in the reign of Tsenkoo, grandson of Aloungpara," which would be about A.D. 1773, The correspondent you quote in your issue of 17th March, says that the Maha Ganda was presented by Shinbyuyin in 1768. Which is correct ? 6
"The weight stated in the inscription is equal to about 25 tons, your correspondent puts it down as 22, and states that the one presented by Tharrawaddy in 1842 (?) weighs 9 tons. There is evidently some confusion here, as Tharrawaddy's bell is the larger of the two and was computed by the Editor of the Maulmain Chronicle at about 50 tons. The weight givin by Captain Forbes, Shway Yoe, and Bishop Bigandet, Life of Gaudama, vol. I note on page 74) of 94,682 lbs. refers to the bell cast for Tharrawaddy in 1843 (the Bishop efroneously says 1842) and not to the Maha Ganda.
"It is by the mixing of these two bells that the error has arisen. In the weight given by Mr. Hesketh Biggs of 26,533 viss, there must be one figure wrong, as the inscription says 15,555, which would make about 25, not 41 tons.
"I have a photograph of the bell which was removed in 1825, taken in February this year It corresponds with the description given by the writer of Two Years in Av in having two griffins on the handle. The rim has the broken appearance it had when I first saw it, otherwise the bell does not appear to be changed.
"To set the question of weights and dimensions at rest, some one, with a competent knowledge, should monsure the bells and calculate their weights."
On 16th May, 1896, a letter from myself to Sir Frank McCarthy produced the following paragraph in the Rangoon Gazette. "A correspondent who is perhape our greatest living Sir George Scott, The Burman.
8 Not now forthcoming. 6 B.E. = A.D. 1778.
6 The Inscription on the Bell gives A.D. 1778.
