ri30 ASAXA TEMPLE. 



one, however, of the numerous temples equals those of 

 Sheba in elegance or picturesque aspect, besides, a 

 decided air of sacredness pervades the latter, which is 

 totally wanting elsewhere. The natives think a great 

 deal of the Quannon, known to Europeans under the 

 name of Asaxa, which is much frequented by pilgrims. 

 It is built within the enclosures of a large park, 

 containing also tea-houses, — tscha-jas, be it well 

 understood, — and booths, where toys, Chinese crackers, 

 and a variety of chea^) articles and food can be bought, 

 conveying to one's mind the idea of a country fair; 

 moreover, there are mountebanks with shrill voices, 

 and the usual crowd of beggars. The square temple, 

 which is said to have existed more than 300 

 years, is at the end of the paved avenue, and raised 

 fifteen to twenty feet from the ground ; its heavy 

 wooden doors ai'e overlaid with copper, and three 

 enormous paper lanterns hang over the entrance, but 

 there is nothing in the inside deserving special notice : 

 it is filled with a host of images, all more or less 

 repugnant in expression. A stable is attached to this 

 buildinof, containino- two white horses, or rather cream- 

 coloured ponies, supposed to continue the breed of an 

 old sacred race which never produced a black hair in 

 any of its progeny ; this my guide, however, showed 

 me to be a myth, for he slily pointed out a mark along 



