This seven-volume set incorporates some of the earliest work by western scholars on Southeast Asian literature, history and culture. James Gray's Ancient Proverbs and Maxims from Burmese Sources examines the history of the different Burmese languages and literatures, providing translations of literary texts. Reinhold Post's volumes Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Indo-China incorporate a variety of essays relating to the geography, natural history, literature and culture of Siam (Thailand), the Malay Peninsular (Malaysia), Singapore and Sumatra (Indonesia).