348 An ancient Buddhist Monastery at Pu-gdn. [No. 4. 



customary at existing monasteries in Burmali. At the south-eastern 

 angle of the building was an apartment differing from the others- 

 It had several recesses in the walls and may probably have been the 

 library of the establishment. At its southern end was a staircase 

 which led up to a small turret on the roof. This was probably 

 intended for the inmates to proceed to the roof in the cool of the 

 evening. 



The monastery was surrounded by an enclosure wall (now nearly 

 all in ruins) about nine feet high. Each face was about 200 feet 

 long. There was only the appearance of a gate at the centre of the 

 eastern face. This was constructed with a double arch, indicating 

 that the monastery had been erected by royal bounty. 



This building appears to have been constructed solely as a monas- 

 tery or residence for monks, and with places for images of Buddha, 

 but no other object of worship. I mention this as Mr. James 

 Eergusson in a note on Buddhist structures, appended to Yule's 

 Narrative of the Mission to the Court of Ava in 1855, appears to 

 suppose that in Burmese monasteries " a dagoba altar" has been 

 introduced, together with images of Buddha, thus converting the 

 Vihara or monastery into the purposes of a chaitya hall. I am not 

 quite sure that I understand what is meant by a " dagoba altar," to 

 which " the priest turns in prayer." If it be a small model dagoba 

 representing a relic receptacle, I am very certain I never saw one in a 

 modern Burmese kyoung or monastery. In Burmah, Buddhist monks 

 do not conduct worship. They simply preach the law. Each indi- 

 vidual makes his own offerings, and utters his own ejaculations. 

 Prayer is scarcely an appropriate term for the devotions of Buddhists. 

 There was no indication in the ancient monastery I have been describ- 

 ing that any such object of worship as a " dagoba altar" was intro- 

 duced. But in the enclosure wall of the monastery, and entirely 

 detached from the building, are two small chambered or vaulted 

 pagodas, which evidently were intended as oratories, (so to speak.) 

 for the monks. This also would tend to show that no '•' dagoba" 

 was placed within the walls of the monastery itself. 



It may be well to add a few words on modern monasteries in 

 Burmah. They are almost invariably built entirely of teak wood. 

 Indeed Burmese of the present day, clergy and laity, appeal' to have 



