120 ON THE CITY OF PEGUE, AND THE 



the approach of a fuppliant. There are feveral low 

 benches near the bottom of the pagoda, on which the 

 pcrfon who comes to pray places his offering, which 

 generally confifts of boiled rice, a plate of fvveetmeats, 

 or cocoa-nut fried in oil. When it is given, the devo- 

 tee cares not what becomes of it. The crows and 

 fariah dogs commonly eat it up in the prefence of the 

 donor, who never attempts to prevent or molcft the 

 animals. I faw feveral plates of victuals devoured in 

 this manner, and underftood it was the cafe with all 

 that were brought. 



There are many fmall pagodas on the areas of both 

 terraces, which are neglected, and differed to fall into 

 decay. Numberlefs images of Gaudma lie indifcri- 

 minately fcattered. A pious Birman, who purchafes 

 an idol, fir ft procures the ceremony of confecration 

 to be performed by the Rahaatis> then takes his 

 purchafe to whatever facred building is moft con- 

 venient, and there places it either in the fhelter of 

 a keoun, or on the open ground before the temple: 

 nor does he ever after feem to have any anxiety about 

 its prefervation, but leaves the divinity to fhift for 

 itfelf. 



Some of thofe idols are made of alabafter, which is 

 found in the neighbourhood of the capital of the Bir- 

 man dominions, and admits of a very fine polilh. 



On both the terraces are a number of white cylin- 

 drical flags,* which are ufed by the Rahaans alone, 

 and are confidered as emblematic of purity and their 

 facred function. On the top of the fluff there is 

 commonly the figure of a benza> or goofe, the f> mbol 

 both of the Birman and Pcs;ue nations. 



From 



* Thcfc flags arc made of long flripcs of white cloth, fewed 

 together at the fides, and extended by hooks of thin bamboos. 



