156 OBSERVATIONS ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE 



Betwixt this place and Malamein, on the east bank of the same river, 

 stands the very majestic lime rock Phabaptaung, the base of which is 

 washed by the stream. It has been perforated quite through by a rivulet. 

 The limestone composing it takes a fine polish — and large stalactites de- 

 pend from the roof of the grand arch overhead. It, like the rest of 

 the rocks examined, shews no traces of organic remains. 



Iji rowing up the Sanltin, or main river, the first objects which at- 

 tracted my attention were the Krulda-taimg rocks, being a continuation 

 of the great lime formation. The river at one spot is hemmed in betwixt 

 two rocks, and being thus narrowed rushes through with considerable im- 

 petuosity. The rock on the north-west bank overhangs its base, the lat- 

 ter being washed by the river. On a sharp, and one should suppose al- 

 most inaccessible pinnacle, a small Pagoda has been built, producing a 

 pleasing effect to the eye of a distant observer. 



The cliff I conjectured to be two hundred and fifty feet high. On 

 that front facing the river, some niches have been cut in a pyramidal 

 space, and in these stand many painted and gilt alabaster images of 

 Suddha, A narrow opening leads into a magnificent cave, which has 

 been dedicated to Buddha, since many large wooden and alabaster images 

 of that deified mortal were found arranged in rows along the sides of it — 

 the wooden images were mostly decayed, through age, and had tumbled 

 on the floor. The rock consists of a grey and hard limestone. The cave 

 bears no marks of having been a work of art. The Burman priests, who 

 inhabit a village on the opposite bank, could not afford me any infor- 

 mation respecting it. No inscription was discovered on the rock. It is 

 rather a singular circumstance, that no Bali, or other inscriptions on stone 

 of any antiquity, have been discovered in the Lido- Chinese countries — and 

 it is the more particularly so as regards Burma, where the natives have 



(with 



