chap, vii.] ANCIENT TOMB. 16o 



treating courses of squared stones in place of mouldings. 

 The size of this structure is about thirty feet square by 

 twenty high, and as the traveller comes suddenly upon it 

 on a small elevation by the roadside, overshadowed by 

 gigantic trees, overrun with plants and creepers, and 

 closely backed by the gloomy forest, he is struck by the 

 solemnity and picturesque beauty of the scene, and is led 

 to ponder on the strange law of progress, which looks so 

 like retrogression, and which in so many distant parts of 

 the world has exterminated or driven out a highly artistic 

 and constructive race, to make room for one which, as far 

 as we can judge, is very far its inferior. 



Few Englishmen are aware of the number and beauty of 

 the architectural remains in Java. They have never been 

 popularly illustrated or described, and it will therefore 

 take most persons by surprise to learn that they far sur- 

 pass those of Central America, perhaps even those of India. 

 To give some idea of these ruins, and perchance to excite 

 wealthy amateurs to explore them thoroughly and obtain 

 by photography an accurate record of their beautiful 

 sculptures before it is too late, I will enumerate the most 

 important, as briefly described in Sir Stamford Baffles' 

 " History of Java." 



Brambanam. — Near the centre of Java, between the 

 native capitals of Djoko-kerta and Surakerta, is the village 

 of Brambanam, near which are abundance of niins, the 



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