TEMPLE OF SHOEMADOO PRAW, If? 



aperture of any fort ; actagonal at the bafe, and fpiral 

 at top. Each fide of the bafe meafures 162 feet. This 

 immenfe breadth diminifhes abruptly; and a fimilar 

 building has not unaptly been compared in fhape to a 

 large fpeaking trumpet.* 



Six feet from the ground there is a wide ledge, 

 which furrounds the bafe of the building ; on the plane 

 of which are fifty-feven fmall fpircs, of equal fize, 

 and equidittant. One of them meafured twenty- 

 feven feet in height, and forty in circumference at the 

 bottom. On a higher ledge there is another row, con- 

 fiding of fifty-three fpires, of fimilar fhape and 

 meafurement. A great variety of mouldings encircles 

 the building; and ornaments, fomewhat refembling the 

 fleur de lys, fufroiind what may be called the bafe of 

 the fpire. Circular mouldings likewife gird this part 

 to a considerable height ; above which there are or- 

 naments in ftucco, net unlike the leaves of a Corin- 

 thian capital ; and the whole is crowned by a tee, or 

 umbrella of open iron- work, from which rifts an iron 

 rod with a gilded penant. 



The lee, or umbrella, is to be feen on every facred 

 building in repair, that is of a fpiral form. The rai- 

 ling and confecration of this la ft and indifpenfible ap- 

 pendage, is an adl of high religious folemnity, and a 

 feafon of feftivity and relaxation. 



The prefent King bellowed the tee that covers 

 Shoemadoo. It was made at the capital ; and many 

 ot the principal nobility came down from Unimerapoom 

 >e prefent at the ceremony of putting it on. 



The circumference of the tee is fifty-fix feet. It 

 refis on an iron axis, fixed in the building, and is 



H 3 furl her 



* Vide Mr. Hunter's Account of P. 



