1836.] Notes on the Geology, &;c. of Maulamyeng. 275 



large brick and mortar image of Gautama guards the entrance of the 

 cavern, which measures 1 8 by 22 feet, while its average height will be 

 as much as 20 feet. This small cave had been but lately selected by 

 the Phungi, for the better concealment of a quantity of manuscripts 

 written in the Thalian or Burmah character, and secreted in the upper 

 part of the Damatha cavern at a time that the country was invaded by 

 the Tshdn*. 



The manuscripts were placed in wooden boxes, elevated upon raf- 

 ters ; many had become perfectly rotten, and others were fast has- 

 tening to decay from constant exposure to damp. 



It may be remarked, that curiously carved elephant's teeth were at 

 one time to be found in these caverns, along with their less costly 

 companions in wood and stone : these are now exceedingly scarce ; 

 the greater number have either crumbled into dust, or divested of the 

 gilding and characteristic features of the Buddhist saint, have been ex- 

 posed for sale in the bazar : some few have met with a better fate, and 

 are probably now adorning the cabinets of the curiousf. On a survey 

 of the general devastation that prevails throughout these limestone 

 caverns, it may reasonably be doubted, whether the hand of man has 

 not proved equally destructive with time, and the elements, in oblite- 

 rating much that had claim to notice by reason of superior antiquity, 

 or novelty of design. The mutilated statues and broken shrines 

 strewed around the caves too well attest the intrusion of other than 

 Barmah devotees, and point out the havock provoked by avarice, a 

 fanatic zeal, or the more reprehensible disregard of what is due to the 

 feelings of a conquered people. 



Notwithstanding its exceedingly compact nature, perhaps no rock 

 possesses the property of decomposition and solubility in water to 

 such a degree as the limestone here treated of. Hence the rich 

 plains in its vicinity, and the no less fertile islands continually formed 

 and nourished by the carbonaceous particles transported from a lime- 

 stone country by the Than-hveng, Gyeng, and Attayen. This tendency 

 to wear is particularly manifest at the Phabowng Thowng, a limestone 

 bill on the right bank of the Attayen, and not far removed from the 

 site of the late town and fort from whence that river derives its name. 

 A cavern may be observed in this rock that has evidently been formed 

 by a mountain torrent, which, coming from the interior, rushes through 



* Siamese. 



f I was fortunate enough to obtain three of these teeth : they appear to be of 

 an immense age; the ivory of the smallest tooth is completely decayed. I 

 have also some of the manuscripts above alluded to, and reserve the whole for 

 presentation to the Asiatic Society. (See Proc. As. Soc. 6'th May.) 

 2 n 2 



