proper to obferve here, that, like the Hindi, there is a flight nafality perceivable in the pronunciation of fome words for which there is no fymbol.

The dipthongs of ain and ain are permuted with è and e when inflecting ny, y, and the whole clafs of apan; as nyèn, nyen, &c. and ain, when inflecting those letters with wach'hwe fufpended, and the clafs apanwach'hwe; as nywèn, &c. This laft nafal, by an anomaly not to be accounted for, is very often written for e.

aun, айп.

These compounds, formed of the first and fifth vowels and guttural nafal, clofe the three series of vowels and nafal marks, and with them the abecedary rules of this language.

There is, however, one obfervation more requifite, that could not have been introduced before without inconvenience, and which has therefore been referved for this place. à confidered in its fyllabic initial capacity, in its inflections of arwi and asaitne with wach'hwe fufpended, is preceded by the fourth vowel, which, in this inftance only, forms the fymbol for wach'hwe. The notation, therefore, for this deviation fhould be as follows: oá, oa, và, các, oan, oàn ; ơi, ơi; ông o'ăit, o'ăip, o'ăin, oäin, o'ăim; o'aich, o'ait, o'ain, o'ain. There is a farther deviation obfervable in the firft fix, the primary vowel being changed in the prefent cafe into the fimple element, with which the inci.pient letter coalefces into a diphthong. In the rest,

the initial vowel is articulated feparately, as the comma between indicates. As for u, ù; aò, ao; o, ò; they retain the fame found, as has been already obferved, either with or without wach'hwe.

The

The following extract, taken from a book entitled Mănu Săingwan, or the Iron Ring of Mănu, is offered merely as a specimen of the notation here laid down. It scarcely, from its infignificancy, deferves a translation: however, one is fubjoined.

Măhăsămădă mān gri chat crawălā sānehyā praiń Brain to in dain pit, ra tài chà hai chaun chye zào tăchhe shaich' pa zaò thăimmăsăit chăgà do go crà lo si lo mu’gà năin nãĉ cri gā hlyān a’hri zo myāť hnā mu'rwe tămun chà hmă myac' hna chain dwan pà nà chhe grao'rwe chan gre jwa colăć co fup san'rwe săin shān jwā zào có phần ít chà tiên chà chhăn bri zào ẵm o Để bà pirit sắt do hoàn che we chrăin răin lyắc lắc up chyi hmă rădănā sumbà go hri' cho'rwe brăimmā chă đào năm sigra do go hơi cho tai dặn ụ h mà huyền i tăchhe shaich pà thăimmăsăit tărà chăgà go măhāsămădă man gri à crà pe lo zaò hnā.*

And Mănu said, "O, mighty Prince, Măhăsămădă! if thou haft an inclination to hear and understand the words of the eighteen holy books which I brought from the gate of Chăcrăwala,† that enclose and form a barrier (to the earth) from thy palace; with thy face turned towards the eaft, cleaning thy teeth; washing thy eyes, mouth, cheeks, and ears, and wiping thy body and hands; and with a purified person, and having put on thy apparel, and eat; and with the four friends affembled, and forming a circle, clofing thy hands, and making obeisance to the three ineftimable jewels, and proftrating thy felf before Brăimmā, (and

* For the original, see Plate II.

+ Steep and stupendous mountains fabled to surround the earth, and beyond which no mortal can pass.

MAN; the two classes of supernatural beings, NAIT and SIGRA, supposed to possess the peculiar guardianship of mankind; and Braimma through an attribute, it would seem, of ubiquity.

& Phura, Tara Sanc'ha. The incarnate Deities, Divine Justice, and the Priests.

(and the two claffes of beneficent Genii,) Năit and Sigrà, and making known to them thy grievances; (having performed all these acts, then) will I present unto thee, illuftrious monarch, Măhăsămădă, and cause thee to hear the words of thefe eighteen books of Divine ordinances."

It is difficult to refrain obferving, that the arrangement not only of the alphabet, but of the first series of vowels (eight of which have diftin&t characters * which are not inflected) of the foregoing fyftem, has a ftriking fimilitude to the Devanagari. In the alphabet, for instance, wherever it is defective, fuch deficiency is fupplied by double, and, in one case, quadruple, fymbols for the fame found; the firft part being arranged into claffes of four, each terminated by a nafal, forming together the number twenty-five; which exactly correfponds with the Devanagari.

From information, there appears to be scarcely room to doubt, but that the Siamefe have one common language and religion with the Brăimmās and Mărămăs; and that in manners and cuftoms, the three nations form, as it were, one great family. How far these obfervations may extend to the inhabitants of Afam, we shall be able to judge on the publication of the history of that country.

It may be fufficient to obferve in this place, that there is one fad impediment to attaining a critical knowledge of the idiom of the language of Ava and Aracan, without which we may in vain expect from any pen, accurate information refpecting the religion, laws, manners, and customs, of these kingdoms; and that is, that there is no regular ftandard of orthography, or the smallest trace of grammatical enquiry, to

*See Plate I. Figure 6.

be

be found among the natives.* Much, however, may be done by patience and attention. The field is ample; and he who has leifure and perseverance to attain a juft knowledge of its boundaries, will probably find his labours rewarded beyond his moft fanguine expectation.

Every writing that has hitherto come under observation, has been full of the grossest inaccuracies; even those stamped by the highest authority; such as official papers from the king of Ava to our government. How far the Pălit, or sacred language, in which their religious ordinances are written, may be exempted from this remark, it is impossible to say. The Priests are almost the only people conversant in it, and few even among them are celebrated for the accuracy and extent of their knowledge. Between Rámu and Islúmabad, only one person has been heard of, and to him access has not hitherto been obtainable. Enquiry seems to favour an opinion, that an acquaintance with both languages is absolutely necessary to effect the important purposes that at present introduce themselves to our notice, and which are to prove the inhabitants of Siam, Ava, and Aracan, to be one and the same people in language, manners, laws, and religion; and features of the strongest resemblance between them and those of Asam, Népal, and Tibet ; and eventually to add another link to the chain of general knowledge, by furnishing materials for filling up the interval that seems at present to separate the Hindus from the Chinese,

XIII.

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE

Elaftic Gum Vine of Prince of Wales's Ifland,

AND OF

Experiments made on the milky Juices which it produces: With Hints refpecting the ufeful Purposes to which it may be applied.

BY JAMES HOWISON, Esq. Communicated by JOHN FLEMING, Esq.

OUR firft knowledge of this plant being a native of our Island, arofe from the following accident. In our excurfions into the forefts, it was found neceffary to carry cutlaffes for the purpose of clearing our way through the underwood. By one of thofe an elaftic gum vine had been divided, the milk of which drying upon the blade, we were much furprized in finding it poffefs all the properties of the American Caout-chouc. The vine which produces this milk is generally about the thickness of the arm, and almoft round, with a strong afh-coloured bark, much cracked, and divided longitudinally; has joints at a fmall diftance from each other, which often send out roots, but feldom branches; runs upon the ground to a great length; at laft rifes upon the highest trees into the open air. It is found in the greatest plenty at the foot of the mountains, upon a red clay mixed with fand, in fituations completely fhaded, and where the mercury in the thermometer will feldom exceed fummer heat.

In my numerous attempts to trace this vine to its top, I never fucceeded; for, after following it in its different windings, fometimes to a diftance of two

3

hundred