932 



FARTHER INDIA. 



Temple at Rangoon. 



lery with numerous ancient inscriptions on stone, collected from different parts of the empire. 

 Population, 80,000. Saigaing, opposite to Ava, is also a large town, filled with an astonish- 

 ing number of temples. Pegu., upon the river of the same name, in the kingdom of Pegu, was 

 destroyed by the IBirniese, in 1757, and has but few inhabitants. Tt is chiefly remarkable for 

 the temple of Shumadu, a large brick pyramid, 330 feet high, and 1 ,296 feet in circuit at the base, 

 without any aperture. The whole is crowned by a tec, or gilt iron summit, upon which is a 

 gilt umbrella, 56 feet in circumference ; to the tee are suspended numerous bells. 



Rangoon^ upon one of the branches of the Irawaddy, although a meanly built city, is the 



principal commercial pla^e in the 

 empire, and is the great mart for 

 teak-wood, which is exported to 

 Plindostan. Here is a temple si- 

 milar to that at Pegu. " Two 

 miles from Rangoon," says Mai- 

 com, " is the celebrated pagoda 

 called Shoodagon. It stands on a 

 small hill, surrounded by many 

 smaller pagodas, some fine zayats 

 [caravanserais] and kyoungs [mo- 

 nasteries], and many noble trees. 

 The two principal approaches from 

 the city, are lined on each side, 

 for a mile, with fine pagodas, some 

 vieing for size with Shoodagon it- 

 self. Passing these on your way 

 from the city, you come to a flight 

 of time-worn steps, covered by a 

 curious arcade of little houses of 

 various forms and sizes, one above 

 another. After crossing some ter- 

 races, covered in the same manner, 

 you reach the top, and, passing a 

 great gate, enter at once this sad 

 but imposing theatre of Gaudama's 

 glory. Before you stands the huge 

 Shoodagon, its top among the 

 clouds, and its golden sides blaz- 

 ing in the glories of an eastern sun. 

 Around are pompous zayats, noble 

 pavements, Gothic mausoleums, 

 uncouth colossal lions, curious 

 stone umbrellas, gracefully cylin- 

 drical banners of gold-embroidered 

 muslin, hanging from lofty pillars, 

 enormous stone jars in rows to re- 

 ceive offerings, tapers burnmg before the images, exquisite flowers displayed on every side, 

 and a multitude of carved figures of idols, griffins, guardians, &c." Population, 20,000. 



The inhabitants are the Avans, or proper Birmans, and Peguans, or Talings, who are evi- 

 dently only branches of one nation, and who form above one half of the population ; the Karens, 

 in the south ; the Shans, or Laos, in the west ; the Singphoos and Bengs, in the north, and 

 several other tribes or nations, of whom little is known. The Birmans are short, robust, and 

 active ; the face is flat, with high cheek-bones, the complexion dark, but much lighter than that 

 of the Hindoos, the hair black, lank, and coarse, tlie beard scanty. 



The Birmans are inferior to the Hindoos and Chinese in arts, manufactures, and industry, and 

 '.n all the institutions of civil life. They are ignorant of literature and science, and unskilled in 

 navigation. The government is a pure despotism, the king dispensing torture, imprisonment, 

 and death, according to his sovereign pleasure. The criminal code is barbarous and severe, and 

 the punishments inflicted are shocking to humanity ; the ordeal and other superstitious modes 



Shoodagon. 



