and the Hill Temple of Mehentéleé. 465 
The trees thus enclosed are five* small—I might almost call them 
branches, none exceeding the thickness of a man’s body: they were at the 
time nearly destitute of leaves in consequence of the unusual dryness of the 
season, and had any thing but an imposing appearance. ‘Three or four other 
branches or single trees, equally small, grow out of the other terraces, into 
which they appear to have been built; and from the expression of the 
countenance of a priest, when I inadvertently leaned against one, appear to 
be held in equal reverence with those in the principal enclosure. 
At the foot of the principal flight of steps are slabs of granite placed 
perpendicularly, one on each side, on which figures are boldly sculptured, 
and between them is a semicircular stone of hard close-grained granite, with 
simple mouldings, let into the ground. 
A colossal figure of Bupp’Ha projects from the building to the eastward, 
and on the same side are the ruins of another enclosure of a similar rec- 
tangular form, but of smaller extent. To the westward, at the distance of 
a few paces, is a low building, a Vihéra, of small dimensions, containing 
several images of Bupp’Ha in metal, and in which the priests officiate. 
This temple is situated in a space of considerable extent (a hundred and 
twenty-five paces by seventy-five), which is enclosed by a strong stone 
wall about eight feet in height, and perforated with triangular holes, in 
which lights are placed on solemn occasions.t ‘The area is planted, in the 
vicinity of the temple, with trees (Plumeria longifolia), whose sweet-smell- 
* A memorandum made by one of my companions coincides with mine, as to the number of 
branches. Whether the number has been purposely selected I cannot decide; at the same time 
I cannot refrain from pointing out the following coincidences :—In the account of the holy tree, 
as described in the Mahdévansi, it is stated to have had jive branches, that each branch produced 
five fruits, &c., and that the tree, which was made of coral and precious stones, and deposited in 
Ruanwelli Dagoba, had also five boughs spread out. The number of Bupp’nas is five; and 
although the fifth has not yet appeared, his statue is found in the temples. The era of the 
present Bupp’HA is also destined to last five thousand years. In the Burmese account of 
the world, it is stated, that after the dissolution of the former system, which was effected by 
a flood of waters, a lily of immense height and size arose, having on its top five buds and four 
branches extending from the stalk ; the five buds contained each a yellow cloth of a priest, and 
were indicative of the number of Bupp'1As pertaining to the system ; four of them have opened : 
that the body is the product of five elements, that there are five sorts of wisdom, that creation 
was completed in five successive acts, and that there are five celestial abodes. 
+ The following occurs on the subject of lamps, in the Réjaratndcari, p. 136.— Moreover, 
this king having heard of the great merit there was in the offering of lamps, he, besides the 
sweet perfumes of camphor and other oils, made offerings of no fewer than 129 350 lamps.” 
