tibilities of the Buddhist reader. Some passages will be found revolting to our intelligence, but they may be of use in giving us an insight into the superstitious practices of the ancient Indians, and furnishing an index to the state of society at the period to which they refer.
In the footnotes to the English translations I have made some passing observations and given parallel passages. These might have been largely augmented, but I have refrained from encumbering the pages of a work intended chiefly for the general reader. The Pâlli texts of. the Burmese Nîtis are in preparation, and will be, it is hoped, useful to the student who would like to compare these anthological treatises with those of a similar nature which were at one time highly popular in India, the cradle of proverbs, parables, and folklore.
In conclusion, I take this opportunity of expressing my deep gratitude to Dr. Rost for the kindly encouragement he has given me in the publication of this work, and for the many tokens of the interest he has taken in the literary labours on which I am engaged.
J.G.
Rangoon, January 1886.
