1859.] History of the Skive Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon. 479 



pagoda at Rangoon, so that it might surpass the ancient temple 

 where the Takings had for so many ages worshipped, and which. 

 was associated with recollections of their national independence. 

 This no doubt prompted the Burmese to add to the size and beauty 

 of the original building at Rangoon, and give it a Burmese form. 



In the travels of the well known Mendes Pinto about the year 

 1545, he speaks of the city or port of Dagou, which no doubt refers 

 to a city at or near, the present site of Rangoon. He makes no 

 mention of the pagoda which he could scarcely have failed to do 

 had it been of the size of the present building. The pagoda how- 

 ever appears to be mentioned by Gasparo Balbi a Venetian in 1583. 



In concluding this notice of Shwe Dagon Pagoda, I purpose 

 adding a few words on similar buildings in Burin ah generally. They 

 may be arranged into four classes, as follows : 



1st. Dat-dau Tsedee or those containing relics of a Boodha or 

 Rahanda. 



2nd. Pa*ree-hau-ga Tse-dee or those containing implements or 

 garments which have belonged to Boodhas or sacred personages. 



3rd. DJiamma Tse-dee, or those containing sacred books or scrolls 

 with texts. 



4th. Oo-deit-tsa Tse-dee or those built from motives of piety, and 

 containing images of Boodha or models of sacred buildings gener- 

 ally in precious metal. 



Hence in Burmah a pagoda is worshipped as being the deposi- 

 tory of a relic ; a monument to Boodha ; or as representing Dham- 

 ma that is Divine Law. 



The form of the most ancient pagodas in India appears to have 

 been hemispherical, an expanded umbrella wrought in stone, being 

 generally placed at the summit. Such was probably the shape of 

 the original Shwe Dagon. Gradually however the form has been 

 altered in Burmah, until the normal shape of a modern pagoda has 

 become that of a cone, or circular pyramid of solid brick work, 

 more or less ornamented, and crowned by a tapering spire of gilt 

 iron net work. This is called the htee or umbrella. 



The accompanying elevation of the Shwe Dagon Pagoda, exhibits 

 the outline of that building and appended thereto are the terms 

 used by the Burmese to designate the several parts of the fabric. 



3 q 2 



