210 THE RUINS OF BORO BUDTJR IN JAVA. 



appeared leaving not the least trace behind. The prince was 

 utterly inconsolable, and wandered over the country for several 

 years seeking his lost child everywhere, but in vain. Twelve years 

 had passed since the fatal day, and the prince was still mourning 

 his little girl, when one day he met a young woman of singular 

 beauty. It was his daughter, but failing to recognise her, he asked 

 her in marriage, was wedded to her, and a child was born of this 

 unnatural union. 



" The offended courtier had now at last reached the moment at 

 which he could satiate his vengeance. He hastened to seek an 

 interview with Dewa Kasttma, recalled himself to the prince's re- 

 collection, and revealed to him the horrible secret. Dewa Kasttma 

 was in despair, he felt himself guilty before the gods, and the 

 priests declared that there was no pardon for such a crime, even 

 though committed in ignorance. To expiate his offence he must 

 allow himself to be shut up within four walls with the mother and 

 child, and end his days in penitence and prayer. 



" There remained, however, one alternative. The penalty would 

 be remitted if in ten days he could construct a Boro Budur. The 

 undertaking was immense, but he had numerous and powerful re- 

 sources at his disposal. Hope revived in his heart, and he set to 

 work without delay, employing all the artists and all the mechanics 

 in his kingdom. The ten days came to an end, and Boro Budur 

 was finished with all its images. But, alas, they counted the 

 images (people count them still); one of the whole number which 

 had been declared indispensable was- wanting, and the building 

 . could not, therefore, be accounted finished. It was then impossible 

 for the unhappy man to escape the doom that menaced him. In 

 vain he poured out his soul in supplications ; the gods were inexora- 

 ble ; their decree must be executed ; the prince and his wife and 

 child were turned into stone ; and it is thus that posterity found 

 them in the three images of ChandiMendutin the neighbourhood." 



It is said that this and similar stories which are to be met 

 with are not even very ancient, but that traces of their compara- 

 tively recent date are easily discovered in the stories themselves. 

 The savants who have made the most careful inquiry are convinced 

 that there are no remains of any historical remembrance whatever 

 among the Javanese of the origin and purpose of Boro Budur. 



