RANGOON TO MANDALAY 233 



monastery, the residence of a Buddhist bishop, and the famous 

 Mingun bell ; this huge mass of metal, said to be the second 

 largest bell in the world, is situated about nine miles above 

 Mandalay, on the right bank of the Irrawady. This great 

 bell, weighing over 80 tons, is 12 feet high, from 6 to 12 

 inches in thickness of metal, and the external diameter 

 at the lip is 16 feet 3 inches. Another very large casting, 

 in the shape of a colossal brass image of Gaudama, 

 may be seen at Amarapoora. This figure, one of 12 feet 

 high in a sitting posture, with limbs in proportion, was once 

 regarded as the palladium of Arrakan, and was brought 

 from thence on its conquest, A.D. 1784, by the Burman 

 monarch. Numerous pagodas, monasteries, and religious 

 buildings may also be seen scattered about over the outer 

 town. The so-called " incomparable pagoda" among pagodas 

 is the most interesting. 



As these are however noticed at length in every book 

 on Burma, I may perhaps be permitted to go on to the 

 object I more especially have in view. A short account 

 of what may be seen and purchased in Mandalay, together 

 with a brief outline of the character, habits, and customs 

 of the people there, may not be amiss. Should the traveller 

 be a connoisseur in curios and works of art, such as objects 

 carved in teak, silver, ivory, or brass, some really very 

 useful and pretty articles may be purchased. Silver-mounted, 

 carved, ivory-handled Burmese " dahs " (a short fighting-sabre 

 or sword) and daggers may be obtained to order. Some 

 excellent lacquer-work may also be seen in almost every 

 native or Burmese shop throughout the town, or in the bazaar. 

 Should he desire a better acquaintance with the people and 

 their manners and customs, he has only to stroll out through 

 the town and pay the market, or what in Burma is called the 

 " ze," a visit. En route to the " ze " or bazaar some curious 

 studies of the extraordinary motley and variety of nationalities 

 may also be seen in the streets. Here, slouching along, comes 

 a band of sturdy Shans with a decided Chinese cast of features 

 about them, wearing wide-brimmed, beautifully-woven, soft 

 straw hats or "kamouks," a long, crooked, silver-mounted, 

 fighting " dah she " or sword in its wooden sheath, and sling 



