Chap. XXIIL 
TEMPLES OF PATA-TSHOO. 
not like its fond embraces, and was showing signs 
of rapid decay. A pretty pagoda stood on one 
side of these buildings, with numerous little bells 
hanging suspended from its spreading eaves, which 
made a plaintive tinkling noise as they were 
shaken by the wind. 
When I had rested for a little while in these 
pleasant quarters I informed my host that I was 
desirous of visiting the other temples on the hill- 
side, and begged him to procure me the services of 
a guide for this purpose. A very intelligent young 
priest volunteered to accompany me, and our party 
was soon joined by eight or ten more. The dif- 
ferent temples were like so many terraces on the 
hill-side, and were connected with each other by 
narrow walks sometimes cut out of the hill, or, 
where the place was steeper than usual, flights of 
stone steps had been made. In one of these tem- 
ples, named Ta-pae-sze, I observed some writing 
on the wall, evidently by a foreign hand. It was 
dated “ 1832.” 
The largest of these temples, named Shung-jay- 
sze, has been honoured with a mark of royal favour 
in the shape of a tablet resting on a carved tortoise. 
Here too is pointed out, with no little pride, a room 
in which the favourite Emperor of the present 
dynasty, Kein-lung, slept when he visited the 
temple. Fine views of the plain are obtained 
from the front rooms ; and a large bridge, named 
Iioo-co-jou, was pointed out to me in the dis- 
tance. 
