1860.] An ancient Buddhist Monastery at Pu-gdn. 347 



however, is now nearly worn away by the weather. Entering this 

 door-way, you pass at once into the vestibule or outer room, which is 

 about 30 by 25 feet. From this you enter the main enclosure or 

 central court of the monastery, more than 40 feet square, and into 

 which open the principal snrrounding cells, which were for the use 

 of the monks. At the west end of this court, and directly fronting 

 the main entrance, is an elevated domed tower, once surmounted by 

 a graduated steeple now in ruins. Within the domed tower, at a 

 height of about fifteen feet above the ground, was a palleng or raised 

 throne, for an image of Gautama. This must ordinarily have been 

 worshipped from below. There are no existing steps up to the tower, 

 which probably was reached from the hall by a ladder when necessary. 

 Beneath this throne was a vault below the level of the ground. A 

 small opening and descending passage led down to it. In the vault 

 also were places for images. This represented the cave which Bud* 

 dhists love to construct, to remind them of places for retirement and 

 devotion. The walls for the interior cells or apartments of the 

 monastery aie now nót more than 10 or 12 feet high, and this 

 appears to have been their original elevation. The interior walls 

 have not been plastered. No portion of a roof anywhere remains. 

 Each cell has a sepárate entrance door and window about 18 inches 

 square. These are all formed with flat arches and no timber appears 

 in any part of the building. It is not clear how the cells have been 

 róofed or with what material, but probably with planks. Not a 

 vestige of a tile was visible. The outer wall of the building is 

 pierced to receive stone pipes to carry oíf the rain water from the 

 roof. These are seen obtruding through the top of the outer wall 

 below the parapet. The great centre room or court of the monastery 

 has also been roofed but probably only with boards laid horizontally. 

 The two dotted lines in the plan show where, from marks at the top 

 of the inner walls of the side cells, two beams had probably rested. 

 In a climate where it seldom rains, planks laid on rafters supported 

 by these, would afford sufficient protection from the weather. This 

 apartment was evidently the great hall of the monastery where the 

 religious discourses and instruction would be conducted. The outer 

 room would be that for the reception of strangers and probably for 

 teaching the scholars, who daily attended for that purpose, as is now 



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