LITERATURE OF THE BURMAS. 293 



Tnand over their pafTions, have wifhed to impofe on the 

 Aveaknefs of their neighbours, have, I believe, been 

 found among unenlightened nations of all religious 

 perfuafions : and it appears to me, that the Zoges are 

 nothing more than fuch deluded ur deluding perfons. 



It has already been faid, that Godama commanded 

 his images and relics to be worfhipped*. The largeft 

 and moft celebrated temples are generally in the form 

 of a pyramid, and are fuppoied to contain fome of 

 thofe relics; fuch as a tooth, a bone, a hair, or a gar- 

 ment. To thefe temples, as containing the facrcd 

 relic, the prayers of the devout are addrefied, and 

 their offerings prefented. The pyramids are often of 

 a great fize, conftrufted of folid brick-work plaftered 

 over, and general 1\^ placed on a prodigious elevated 

 terrace. The bafe of the pyramid is frequently fur- 

 rounded by a double row of fmall ones; and the fum- 

 mits of the whole are always crowned with umbrellas, 

 made of a combination of iron bars into a kind of 

 fillagree-work, and adorned with bells. Many of 

 thefe pyramids are from three to five hundred feet 

 high. In the larger temples the umbrella, with at 

 lead the upper part of the pyramid, and often the 

 whole, is entirely gilded over: and then the title of 

 Shid^ or golden, is beftowed on the edifice. Other 

 temples of nearly a fimilar ftrufture, but hollow with- 

 in, contain images of Godama, to which the adoration 

 of his difciples is direcled. Both thefe defcriptions 

 of temples are in common called Bura^ which M. Lou- 

 BERE writes Pra^ and fays that it means refpefl.able. 

 It is a phrafe only given either to God, and to his 

 images, relics, temples, and prielts; or to the king, 

 and thofe governing in his name. An inferior gives 

 it to the meaneft officers of government; but a fupe- 

 rior never gives it to an inferiour, as our king often 

 calls his nobles, my lord, a title fomewhat analagous. 

 Neither is Bura ever applied to a ilranger: a man 



U 3 who 



* Page 266 ofthii Volume. 



