Indian Antiquary Vol 23

SR No.: 032515
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 412
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 235

AUGUST, 1894.)
MISCELLANEA.
228
ductive of those metals. There are, however, which occurs in the Dipavamsa, the Mahavamsa, gold washings on a small scale in many of and the Samantapdsddikd in connection with the the rivulets both of Pegu and of the valley of Buddhist mission to that country. Lassen identhe Upper Irwadf and of the Kyendwen [Chind- tifies Suvannabhumi with the present Pegu, or win), which may have been more productive in the Delta of the Irrawaddy; Col. Yule applies the ancient times. And the Argentea Regio may name to a promontory or place on the coast of the probably (as suggested by Col. Hannay) have Gulf of Martaban; and other writers hold that it been the territory including the Bau Dwen | means Burma in general or the large islands off (Bòdwin, really a part of the Shan States], or the Straits (Settlements). In modern Burmese. grert silver mine on the Chinese frontier, which works Suvannabhami is used as the classical is believed to supply & large part of the currency designation of British and Upper Burma. Capof Burma. Indeed Aurea Regio may be only tain Forbes, in his Indo-Chinese Languages, has a translation of the name Sônaparanta, which is already forcibly pointed out, and his statement is the classic or sacred appellation of the central corroborated by geological evidences and the region of Burma, near the junction of the Iråwadi Native records, that the extensive plains south and the Kyendwen, always used to this day in the the Pega Tôma and what are now the Irrawaddy enumeration of the king's titles. These regions and Sittang valleys were covered by the sea till may, moreover, have been the channels by which few centuries after Christ. Even Hiuen Tsiang, the precions metals were brought from China, and who visited India in the 7th century A. D., places the mountains near the sources of the Irawadi, Prome near a sea harbour. Burmese historians which are said to be very productive of gold; and date the retreating of the ocean from Prome possibly, even at that remote period, the profuse from a terrible earthquake, which took place in use of gilding in edifices may have characterized the fifth century after Christ. The corrosion of the people, as it does now.
the sea water is still clearly traceable on the "It seems, however, most probable that this
numerous boulders which line the base of the practice was introduced with Buddhism. Yet
hills stretching, now far inland, from Shwêgyin even at the period of the first Buddhistio mission
to Martaban. Cables and ropes of sea-going to this region, at the conelusion of the third
vessels have been dug up near Ayetthemi, the great Synod, B. 0. 241, it was known in India as
ancient Takkala, now distant 12 miles from the Suvarnabhami, the Golden Land.
sea-shore, and but lately remains of foreign ships
have been found near Twente buried eight feet According to Mr. Mason, the ancient capital
beneath the surface of the earth."-Forchhamof the Talains (of the Toung-thoos (see ante,
mer's Notes on the Early History and GeoVol. XXI. p. 379.], 'according to the tradition of
graphy of British Burmah. II.-The First Bud. the latter) was Thadung, or Satung, á city whose
dhist Mission to Suvannabhami, page 3. traces still exist between the mouths of the Salwen and the Sitang. Suvanna-bumme,' he adds, but unfortunately stating no authority, is still the The following extract from the preface to Col. classic PAli name of Satung (meaning thereby ? quhoun's Across Chryse is from the pen of the Thaton]."--Yule's Mission to Ava, page 206.
late Sir Henry Yule :
“Chrysd is a literal versinn of the Sanskrit "Sino and Uttarê were deputed to Suvarna
Suvarnabhami, or Golden Land, applied in bhami, or Golden Land. As this country was
ancient India to the Indo-Chinese regions. Of on the sea-coast, it may be identified either with
course, where there is no accurate knowledge, the Avd, the Aurea Regio, or with Siam, the Aures Chersones us. Six millions of people are said
application of terms must be vague. to have been converted, of whom twenty-five
"It would be difficult to define where Ptolemy's thousand men became monks, and fifteen hundred Ohrysê (Chryad Chora aut Chryse Chers women became nuns."--Cunningham's Bhilsa nesus) terminated eastward, though he appears Topes, page 118.
to give the names a special applicution to what (d)
we call Burma and Pegu. But Ptolemy, from "The identity of the Khrysé of Ptolemy, of the the nature of his work, which consisted in draw. Suvarnabhomi of the Buddhist legends, and of ing such maps as he could, and then tabulating the city of Thahtun [Thaton) in Pegu, all having the positions from those mape, as if the possessed the same signification, appears nearly certain." - most accurate data for all, necessarily defined Phayre's History of Burma, page 26.
things far beyond what his real materials justified.
If we look to the author of the Periplus, who has "Suvannabhami is the only geographical name no call to affect impossible precision, we find