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208
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[August, 1897.
Next comes & will drawn up in the 3rd waxing Wagaung, 1242, (B. E.; 8th August, 1880) by Sayeddji (high official title) Kyi Maung Galê, and in this we find rupees introduced. He says: - "The moneys (debts) owing to me shall be sued for, the costs being equally borne by the co-heirs. If any of them cannot afford to bear the costs, and if a decree for the said moneys (debts) is obtained by the remaining co-heirs, the party bearing the costs shall deduct 20 per cent. (ngué 100 'lyin 20 kya 'nók pyí: ma, deducting 20 in 100 silver) of the sum awarded, and the balance shall be equally divided amongst them all. The two diamond rings worth over rupees (ngwé, silver) 2,000 shall be sold, and the proceeds applied to the cost of copying palm-leaf MSS. at a cost of rupees (kyàt) 272, and presenting them to the Majidd Sadd (Bishop), after having these MSS. gilt in a proper manner. The balance I bequeath as follows:- To Shwe Bu, Rs. 200, MI PA, Rs. 200, MI'Nin, Rs. 100, and Ma Minbd, Rs. 100. The remaining money (ngrémyas) shall be devoted to my faneral expenses."
There are two wills of 1884, that of the Pagan Minji (Minister) and of the widow of the Myinzuji Wun (official). The former is dated the 6th waning Wigaung, 1246, (B. E.; 12th Aug. 1884): - "On their (two little girls and a little boy) attaining their 17th year, my elder daughter shall give five pairs of gold wristlets, weighing 20 ticals, formerly worn by her, and 10 ticals of gold, 30 ticals in all, to Ma Kyidd, 20 ticals of gold to Sòbwaji (the boy, a title), and 20 ticals of gold to Ma Ekyů, provided that the said legatees live with my daughters, Shin Ma Ji and Shin Me Pa and my younger brother, the Sayedòjt an official). Should these children leave the household with their respective mothers, let them receive only 5 ticals of gold each - If the sum of Rupees (ngwé) 6,460, advanced by me to purchase commissariat stores for the Royal troops, is repaid,Rapees 100 each shall be given to Shwe Nyun and Shin Hindå (both wives). I have given to Shwe Din, Shwe Nyun and Shin Hindi ear-rings, necklaces, rings and money (ngwé-myás)."
The latter is dated 5th waxing Tazaungmôn, 1246, (B. E.; 4th Nov. 1884) and says:"My property, animate and inanimate, consisting of gold, silver, ornaments, clothes, rice, and garden lands and king-lands, still remains. On my death my eldest son the Letpetyềdò ex-Won of Kale Donmyo, an official), shall retain in his possession - a diamond ring valued At Rupees (dingá, coins) 1,000.- He shall also receive Rupees (ng wédingú, silver coins) 3,000, as an equivalent for the viss of gold,85 the emerald ring valued at Bs. 600 and the ruby ring valued at Rs. 500, which were included in the presents. - To my gravd-daughter Kinkinji I bequeath 20 ticals of gold - to Me Dit 10 ticals of gold, - to my niece Myadaung. wanalò (wife of the Myadaung Wan) Mè S8 Rupees (ng wédinga) 1,750 in Shwepankpin Vi age, and a paddy-field valued at Rs. 500 -; 50 ticals of gold - shall be equally divided between !
Of 1887 there are three wills quoted. First that of "Her Royal Highness, the wife of His Excellency, the Pak'àn Minji,” dated 2nd waxing Toðalin, 1249, (B. E.; 19th Aug. 1887), who leaves everything to her adopted son Maung PO Kàn. This conservative lady goes back to the old system and describes her personalty as consisting of gold, silver, diamonds, etc., and debts.86
# Described as "still young and will probably marry again." # This is a delicious reference to the uncertainty of Royal repayments under the Kings of Barma.
# This is an exceedingly valuable statement, because it fizes the account rate of exchange between gold and sil. yer: thus :- o. 2,000 = 1 viss or 100 tioals of gold; 1 tical = lt rupee: therefore the ratio is 2,000 to 195 or 16 to 1. Hawer, I think by 1884 the kyat had come to signify the weight of the Burmese silver coin (di iga), which is a t814 and not a tickal so that what is meant is that exchange between go
exchange between gold and silver was then 20 to 1, or somewhere about the real rate of exchange, as understood in Europe. In Lower Burma dingd has long meant rupee : vido Spearman's B. B. Gazetteer, 1870, Vol. I, p. 407: -"The rapee (dong.ga, lit., circular piece of metal, stamped, whether a coin or medal) is in universal un."
W I paid this identical lady, on bebalf of the British Government, a large som in rupees on the Slot March, 1888. for some property situated bent what was then the East Gate of the Palace at Mandalay ; but quite lately I discovered in conversation that all knowledge of the old East Gate of the Palace itself bad disappeared, as far as the ordinary British residents were concerned, by 1896
