274 Notes on the Geology, #c. of Maulamyeng . [Mat, 



from the Tyok-hla cavern, and used by the natives in the manufacture 

 of saltpetre. 



Damatha Cavern, (western entrance,) situated on the left bank of the 

 Gyeng river, and about 12 miles distant from Maulamyeng . 



The mouth of this cavern is almost entirely closed by a brick wall : 

 a small passage on the left affording entrance. It is spacious within, 

 being about 220 feet long, 100 feet broad, and 25 feet high. The 

 singularity attached to the cavern arises from its extending right 

 through the hill, so that entering on the western side, one may pass 

 out through the eastern mouth of the cave. The stalactites are 

 numerous ; several are of an immense size, and daily becoming larger 

 from the continual supply of water, impregnated with calcareous mat> 

 ter, percolating through the hill, and giving a new crust to those 

 already formed. Stalagmites likewise exist, but are generally much 

 concealed from view by bat's dung, with which the floor of the cavern 

 is covered. As is the case with all the larger description of caverns, that 

 at Damatha is crowded with images of Buddha in wood and stone ; he 

 is represented in his usual sitting posture ; in some instances, arrayed 

 with the "glories," but more frequently without them. The work- 

 manship is very inferior, and little attention seems to have been paid 

 to the polishing of the stone, which is a fine crystalline marble, and 

 naturally well adapted for sculpture. Exposed as these rude monu- 

 ments of art are to the ravages of a damp atmosphere, as well as to 

 the contamination of birds and beasts of prey, such extra labour would 

 have been but fruitlessly bestowed ; the natural white colour of the 

 marble is either entirely defaced, or it has acquired the crystalline, 

 reticulated appearance peculiar to the stalactite. Fronting the eas- 

 tern entrance, and placed over the larger Phyd, is the following 

 inscription written in the Thalian tongue, and specifying (as I am given 

 to understand) the time that had elapsed since the cavern was first 

 consecrated for the reception of the images*. The country was at 

 that period in the hands of the Pe*y-go\ government, and as marks 

 of great age are evident throughout the whole of the works contained 

 in the cavern, it is probable that some centuries have gone by since 

 they were executed. 



Passing out of the Damatha cavern on the eastern side, and following 

 the limestone range to the south, a smaller cave may be observed 

 within a few yards of the summit of the hill, which is in this place 

 about 500 feet above the level of the plain ; the ascent to it is 

 extremely difficult, owing to the precipitous nature of the rock. A 



* See note at the end of the paper and the inscription lithographed in 

 PI. X.— Ed. f Pegu. 



