EXPLORATION OF LEW CHEW. 



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The material was limestone, and the masonry of admirable construction. The stones, some 

 of which were cubes of four feet square, were so carefully hewn and jointed that tlie absence of 

 any mortar or cement did not seem to impair the durability of the work. There were two 

 remarkable points about the work. The arches were double, tlie lower course being formed of 



^-^^^tyrlTr'J'o 



NagagusUo — Interior. 



two stones hewn into almost a parabolic curve, and meeting in the centre, over which was 

 regular Egyptian arch, with its key-stone, as represented in the annexed outline, No. 1. 



the 





The other peculiarity was, that in jjlace of bastions, 

 there were square projections of masonry, presenting a 

 concave front, (No. 2,) which would catcliand concen- 

 trate the force of a cannon ball, rather than ward it 

 off. But this fortress must have been erected many 

 centuries before the use of fire-arms of any kind could 

 have been known to the Lew Chewans. Our Chinese 

 pretended to give the name of the place as Ching-King, 

 which arc Chinese words, signifying the chief or capital 

 citadel. 



