then, to the intense amazement of all present, he named every one of the moves on the Chess-boards, every card played, and by whom, repeated all the verses correctly, with the words in proper order, gave the calendar verbatim, and to crown all, told the number of strokes on the bell, and how many pebbles had touched his back. This man has been exhibiting his powers of memory in Bombay, Poona, and other places, and holds among other testimonials, one from Lord Elphinstone."

CHAPTER XVII.

Chess to the Eastward of Hindūstān—Chess in Burmha -Chess in Sumatra-Chess in Java-Chess in Malacca-Chess in Borneo-Chess in China.

IN our last chapter we retraced our steps from the Nile eastwards to the Ganges, with a view to shew the present state of Chess in those extensive regions. We shall now conclude our description, with a brief sketch of the game as played in the countries situated to the east and south-east of India, the land where it first originated. Our authorities here are, with one exception, very sound and reliable, though not so copious as those to which we have already had recourse.

Chess in Burmha, &c.

Of the Burmese game of Chess, we have a very satisfactory account by Captain Hiram Cox, who, at the end of the last century, resided for some time in the Burman empire, more particularly at the Court of Amarapoorah. This account was communicated to the Vice-President of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, in 1799, and printed in the seventh volume of that Society's Transactions. The description of the Burmese game will, so far as I have been able to ascertain, apply in general to the regions situated between India and China, viz.: Tibet, Burmha, Siam and Cochin China. In all of these countries we find the medieval game still in vogue, simply because,

as in the case of Abyssinia, the people have had very little intercourse with strangers from other lands. This being premised, we now give Captain Cox's description, viz. :

"The Burmha name for the game of Chess is chit-thareen, a term applied by them either to a generalissimo, or warfare; an etymologist perhaps might trace it as a corruption of the Sanskrit Chatur-anga.

"The annexed drawing and diagram will best explain the form of the pieces, &c. and ordinary array of the battalia.

“No. 1. Meng, or the king, has the same moves and powers as in the English game, except that he cannot castle, neither do they admit of what we call stale mate.

"No. 2. Chekoy, or sub-general; he moves diagonally either way in advance or retrograde, but limited to one check or step at a move.

"No. 3. 3. Ratha, war chariot; they have exactly the same moves and powers as the English castle or rook.

"No. 4. 4. Chein, elephants; they have five distinct moves, viz. direct, one; diagonal in advance, two; and diagonal retrograde, two; but limited to one check or step at a move; they slay diagonally only; the move direct in advance being only intended to alter the line of their operations so that they may occasionally have the powers of our king's or queen's bishop.

"No. 5. 5. Mhee, cavalry; they have exactly the same moves and powers as in the English game.

"No. 6.6.6.6.6.6.6.6. Yein, or foot soldiers; they have the same moves and powers as in the English game, except that they are limited to one check or step at a move, and that the right hand pieces only are susceptible of promotion to the rank of chekoy (in the event of his being taken). It is not necessary for this promotion that they should have advanced to the last row of the adversary's check, but to that check which is in a diagonal line with the left-hand check in the last row of the adversary's section; consequently, the right-hand Pawn or Yein, according to the diagram, will have to advance four steps to obtain the rank of chekoy; the second yein, three steps; the third yein, two steps; the fourth yein, two steps; and the fifth yein, one step.

"Although the array of the battalia is generally as in

the diagram, yet the Burmhas admit of great variations; each party being allowed to arrange their pieces ad libitum; that is to say, they may strengthen either wing, or expose the king, according as they estimate each other's abilities, or as caprice or judgment may influence them. In some respects this is tantamount to our giving a piece to an inferior player, but the variation is only to be understood of the pieces, and not of the Pawns.

"This liberty, added to the names and powers of the pieces, gives the Burmha game more the appearance of a real battle than any other game I know of. The powers of the Chein are well calculated for the defence of each other and the King, where most vulnerable; and the Ratha or war chariots are certainly more analagous to an active state of warfare than rooks or castles."

REMARKS.

In the Burmese, or as we may better term it the Budhist game, we find that the only deviation from the Shatranj consists in the additional power conferred on the Elephant or Bishop, which now becomes decidedly superior to the Farzin or Queen. The Elephant in the Burmese game can evidently cover the whole of the squares of the board, whereas in the regular Shatranj, as we have already shewn, he could cover only eight squares; hence his value now is somewhat intermediate between the Knight and Farzin.

We farther observe in Captain Cox's account of the array of the battalia," something closely resembling the Ta'biyat, or "battle array," of the medieval game described in our tenth chapter. The gallant captain does not appear to have been aware of this peculiarity in the latter game; hence he has imagined the above arrange