LITERATURE OF THE BURMAS. 2^9 



numerous devotees, and go in confiderablc numbers 

 together, and in their beft drefs. They refort to the 

 galleries and hoiifes built for the accommodation of 

 thofe who frequent the temple : there they aflbmblc 

 in crowds to adjuft their drefs and offerings: for a 

 while they talk, laugh, and amufc thcmfelves; then 

 they repair to the temple, fall on their knees, fay their 

 prayers, make their offering, and depart. Bloody 

 Sacrifices, among the difciples of the mild Godama, 

 would be beholden with abhorrence. 



The two principal feftivals, which we faw, were 

 on the oecalion of the new year, and on the ending 

 of lent. During the firfl, we w'ere at Fegue, and 

 -were prefent at many of the games, and entertain- 

 ments, given during its celebration. Only one day's 

 amufemcntwas at the grand temple, Shue-Modo, and 

 no religious ceremony, as far as we faw, took place. 

 The moft fmgular amufement at this feftival, is the 

 concluding one of throwing water, which to a. rude 

 people affords very good fport. For the whole laft. 

 day of the feftival, the men are permitted to throw 

 water at the women, and the women at the men: fuch 

 women as are with child being however exempted. All 

 the young people look with joy for this merry day, 

 and it is conduced with the greateft good humour, 

 the one fex not being likely to give offence to the 

 other. 



Lent having ended, during the whole month Sa- 

 decn-giut there are illuminations : every houfe has 

 erefted by it a kind of maft, from which are fufpendcd 

 one or more lamps. In the royal palace, a pyramid 

 of lamps, at leaft 150 feet high, was fupported by a 

 bamboo fcaffolding. From the lodgings of the de- 

 putation, this illumination of Amarapura made a 

 very fplendid appearance acrofs the lake, by which 

 we were feparated from the city. It is at this time 

 that the nobles from all parts of the empire refort to 

 court to pay their homage to the king. On this oc- 

 cafion we had an opportunity of feeing a model of the 

 hill Mienmo-, which was erected in the outer court of 



the 



