3862.] Ancient Javanese Remains. 21 



One great paved and elevated terrace, nearly 400 feet* square, forms 

 the platform. Then rise five successive terraces, each surrounded by a 

 high parapet, so as to form between them four corridors running 

 right round the building. Above these come three concentric rings 

 of small dagobas, and in the centre a large dagoba of about 30 feet 

 in diameter, forming tne apex and crown of all. The height to the 

 base of this dagoba is about 90 feet.f 



In Raffles's time, much of the basement was covered up, and I 

 believe all the galleries had been at one time filled by the volcanic 

 ashes from Mir Api. Baffles must have partially cleared the base- 

 ment, as he has given elaborate plans of the whole structure, but the 

 complete clearance of the lower platform was carried out by the same 

 Resident Hartman who discovered Mundot. 



In the outer face of each terrace are numerous niches crowned by 

 small model dagobas. Each of these niches has been occupied by a 

 cross-legged Buddha,! and both sides of the corridors are carved in 

 a vast series of bas-reliefs. These doubtless represent the history of 

 Gautama Buddha, and are analogous to the extensive series of wall 

 paintings often seen in Burma. From Col. Cunningham's descrip- 

 tions of Sanchi, they appear to have some resemblance to the sculp- 

 tures there. They exhibit every variety of life, war, worship, 

 processions, and domestic scenes, with an entire absence of any 

 indecency so far as I saw. Courts, chariots, ships, umbrellas, arms, 

 architectural subjects, &c. &c, afford many interesting glimpses of 

 the race which erected these galleries. The faces are all undoubtedly 

 Hindu, and closely resemble those of the best Hindu sculptures. 

 Indeed the faces are not only the best executed, but the best preserv- 

 ed part of the work, and even where the figures are worn and defaced, 

 as one often sees on an old coin, the faces still retain wonderful 

 sharpness and distinctness of character. The Netherlands Govern- 

 ment employed artists for several years to make drawings of all these 

 sculptures, and they are now being engraved in Holland at great 

 expense. To photograph them, would be difficult on account of the 

 narrowness of the galleries. The quality of the sculpture, and of 



* I take this from Raffles's plan. Crawfurd says 526 feet and is probably 

 more correct. 



t The whole height according to Crawfurd is 116 feet. 



J According to Raffles's plan, there must have been 436 of these. 



