1857.] The Remains at Pagan. 7 



relic. Images of Gautama are often attached to these, but do not 

 seem to be essential to them. The great Pagodas of Rangoon, 

 Prome, and Pegu are celebrated examples of this kind of edifice. 



The type of the principal temples at Pagan is very different, and 

 they suit better our idea of what the word temple implies. Remains 

 of this description but on a small scale, first attracted our attention 

 at Tantabeng, a place on the east bank of the Irawadi some miles 

 above Yenangyoung.* 



The buildings at Tantabengt were numerous, had an air of great 

 antiquity, and were, as far as we examined them, on one general 

 plan. The body of the buildings was cubical in form, inclosiuo- a 

 Gothic-vaulted Chamber. The entrance was by a projecting porcli 

 to the east, and this porch had also a subsidiary door on its 

 north and south sides. There were also slightly projecting door- 

 places on the three other sides of the main building, sometimes 

 blank and sometimes real entrances. The plan of the building 

 was cruciform. Several terraces rose successively above the body 

 of the temple, and from the highest terrace rose a spire bearing a 

 strong general resemblance to that of the common temples of 

 Eastern India, being like the latter a tall pyramid with bulging 

 sides. The angles of this spire were marked as quoins, with deep 

 joints, and a little apex at the projecting angle of each, which gave 

 a peculiar serrated appearance to the outline when seen against the 

 sky. These buildings were entirely of brick ; the ornamental 

 mouldings still partially remained in plaster. The interior of each 

 temple contained an image of Gautama, or its remains. The walls 

 and vaults were plastered and had been highly decorated with 

 minute fresco painting. 



Such is the substantial type of all the most important temples at 

 Pagan, though when the area of the ground-plan expands from 30 

 or 40 feet square to 200 or 300 feet square, the proportions and 

 details of the parts necessarily vary considerably. 



* Mr. Oldham says that he saw a chambered pagoda as low down as Akouk- 

 toung (below Prome.) There is a conspicuous one also at Thayet Myo. But they 

 are comparatively rare anywhere below the point named, and never, I think of 

 the antique type here described. 



t These have been photographed by Captain Tripe. 



