“From these works, which contain definitions of two words designative of the creature Nyan, it will be gathered that there does exist a predatory monster in the form of an earthworm, which inhabits estuaries and the mouths of great rivers.
“Regarding the predatory instincts of this creature, it should be understood that it attacks even such animals as elephants. Hence the Dhammathats, in dealing with the decision of cases of hire of live-stock, wishing to point out that no fault lies through losses owing to natural accidents, make the following remarks:—
“‘There shall be no fault held if oxen die by reason of a snake gliding under them.’
“‘There shall be no fault held, if buffaloes die by reason of a dove resting on their horns.’
“‘There shall be no fault held if oxen and buffaloes die of their having eaten a grasshopper.’
“‘There shall be no fault held if elephants die by reason of their having been encoiled in the folds of a Nyan.’
“‘There shall be no fault held if horses die by reason of their having been sucked by bilas.’
“The Poetical Version of the Pokinnaka Dhammathat, which is a compilation of several Dhammathats, in the same strain, says:—
[Here follows a verse, the same in effect as the above.]
“From such passages it will be seen that there is a frightful monster of extraordinary strength, which is capable of capturing even such animals as elephants.”