Rollins holds in its special collections a rare Buddhist manuscript that was donated by Dr Howard Kelley of John Hopkins in 1932, which he acquired from the family of Henry Harkness, an employee of theBritish East India Company. Produced in the early 19th century, this leporello book was made from naturally cream-colored mulberry bark paper in Thailand. The large folding manuscript contains the Chanted Poem of the Monk Phra Malai (Phra Malai Klon Suat) in Thai language written in Khom script. The document also includes multiple folios with paired paintings depicting Buddhist deities andscenes in Buddhism. Traditionally recited during funeral wakes and other important occasions, the Buddhist book of merit tells the legend of the monk-saint who, thanks to accumulated merit and advanced meditation skills, was able to travel between the Buddhist realms of heavens, hells and the human world.

Submitted by: Wenxian Zhang and Rachel Walton, Rollins College