142 VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 



big idol, painted black, and before it were placed some other 

 idols in sitting postures, in the oriental fashion. Before these 

 stood a kind of altar and upon it were placed different kinds of 

 idols, both sitting and standing and varying in size. At both 

 sides, as well as at the back, there was a broad free passag'e. I 

 found here also the traces of the searches which the Burmans 

 had made to find treasures both at the back and heads of the 

 bigger idols, as I had seen in many other cases ; even the high 

 columns and towers were not free from these demolitions. As 

 is nearly always the case, there were also here near this temple 

 several other pagodas. There were only very few big trees here, 

 but many shrubs. From here one could see a great number of 

 temples, as this part of the country was rather elevated ; but all 

 these temples ^\:ere in ruins. After I had stayed here a while, 

 admiring, and reflecting as to what degree men can be blinded 

 and carried away by superstition and wrong religious ideas, and 

 as to the short space of time required to reduce so much to ruins, 

 because these temples were still being used ten years ago, I 

 turned to my botanical researches. 



The first plant I came across was the European Cuscuta and 

 the second one Oxalis corniculata, *grov7mg at the wall of the 

 temple. Of a 2'etrandria, of which I had found a very small speci- 

 men near Madras, having only a small superior corolla and a 

 calyx winged at the corners, and which I had thought to be a 

 Hedijotis, I found here an excellent specimen. Ipomcca HepaiiciJoHa 

 was about one foot long' and very perfect, but the white corolla 

 Avas not much bigger than a mustard seed. JMirali'is jaUippa 

 and different species of Trichumnthes grew here wild ; they were 

 so entangled that I could hardly pass through. Behind the wall 

 I found some specimens of the climbing Vollameria in blossom. 

 I had seen them a year ago in the wanies of Ceylon, cover- 

 ing the highest trees. I found a shrub, having all the charac- 

 teristics of the Termincdia, but I could not obtain any fruit. 

 From this place I went on to a little hill, which was covered with 

 the most magnificent blossoms that I, or any body else, might 

 wish to see. Among' these there were first two new kinds of 

 Jnsticias, a splendid large double Verhesina and Verhe.^iua hiflora, 

 Vtrhesina acmella, red and yellow carinas, Clitoria ternatea, with 

 double blossoms of a beautiful blue colour, now and then there 

 were some with white blossoms ; Ijwnia'a hepatici/olia, beautifully 



