Sau Kau-Too, Wade J. Thesaurus of Karen Knowledge Comprising Traditions, Legends or Fables, Poertry, Customs, Superstitions, Demonology, Therapeutics etc. Volume 2

Tavoy: Karen Mission Press, 1848. — 428 p.Alphabetically arranged and forming a complete Native Karen Dictionary, with definitions and examples, illustrating the usages of every word.In the above preface to the first volume of the first edition of the Thesaurus, reference is made to a Karen and English Dictionary, which the author had in mind to prepare. This dictionary was commenced on a large scale, and if carried on as at fist contemplated, would have equaled in size of page and bulk "Webster Unabridged." After the printing of 32+ pages, latter of the alphabet, the magnitude of the task proposed struck the author, and he determined to do as indicated in the preface reprinted above, viz., make two dictionaries, one from Karen into English to be called a Vocabulary (12me, 1024pp) commencing at the point where the large work ended, and a Dictionary wholly Karen to be called the Thesaurus, the original title page of which, after sixtyeight years, is here produced.
Every definition in the Thesaurus was numbered, and these numbers were given in the Vocabulary, and have been found of great use in the further investigation of words. It is to be regretted that in the second edition of the Vocabulary in 1896, these numbers were omitted, probably under the impression, which has proved erroneous, that the Thesaurus would never be reprinted. It is to be hoped that the numbers will be reinserted in any subsequent edition of the Vocabulary.
After being out of print for many years, and in increasing demand, at the Annual Meeting of the Burma Baptist Missionary Convention held in Bassein in 1909, a resolution was passed calling for the reprint as soon as practicable of the Karen Thesaurus. It was taken in hand in 1911. The reading of the proofs was one of the last works of the late and much lamented Mrs. J. H. Vinton. She was spared to see this first volume, consisting of the 324 pages of the Karen and English Dictionary, and the first of the four volumes of the original Thesaurus, stereotyped, though not printed.
D. A. W. Smith
Insein, July, 1915