112 JOURNEY THROUGH LAOS FROM BANGKOK TO UBON. 
like those of Angkor-vat, a long dragon supported on the knees 
of a whole row of seated statues ; these have the legs crossed 
and one of the hands under one thigh. | 
After two hours spent in crossing these ruins, I endeavoured 
to make a plan of all that I had seen. This city or temple is 
-built according to regular bearings, and forms a complete 
square. 
On the four sides, each facing one of the cardinal points, 
enormous causeways thrown across a broad and deep moat 
gave access to the inner side of the outer wall. In front of 
these gateways, about three or four métres from the moat, and 
as if intended to protect the entrance, there were square enclo- 
sures, provided with a single door, above which rose a pile of 
cruciform buildings topped by pyramids. 
The inner buildings, which it would be difficult to describe, 
were surrounded by asecond ditch, less broad and deep than the 
first. There were four gates magnificently sculptured and 
defended, as it were, by monstrous figures with human bodies 
and hideous faces—regular demons. The general mass of build- 
ings was composed of galleries all connected one with another 
and crowned with domes at the points where they crossed ; 
these domes were more and more lofty in proportion as they 
approached the centre, the middle one towering above all the 
others. The coping of all the walls, whether inner or outer, is 
formed of little sema (mounds) * in the middle of which is a 
Buddha seated. The large moat is kept abundantly supphed 
with water from two little streams. 
Saturday, 8th.—It was with regret that we quitted these 
ruins. Whocan tellus theirstory? What has become of those 
who built this city? Learned authorities are reduced to con- 
jectures. The people of the country can furnish nothing but 
fabulous legends; according to them, these buildings are the 
work of the angels. After a troublesome journey through 
dense forest we camped on the banks of a muddy pool. 
Sunday, 9th.— After breakfast Pére XavirrR went ahead to 
purchase provisions and to hire men and carts to enable us to 
* Sema, the sign by which a grave is known; a mound, a barrow. 
