114 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
feet, and the spire was reported by our guides 
to be one hundred and seven cubits, or one 
hundred and sixty feet and a half in height. 
The temple contains many huge images of Gau¬ 
tama, of the usual structure and form, but no 
relick of antiquity. Its building is ascribed to 
Kyan-Thak-sa, who reigned in Pugan from 
1056 of Christ, to 1081. He was the grand¬ 
father and immediate predecessor of Alaun- 
Chau-su, who built Thapin-nyu. 
Not far from the temple of Ananda there 
are some good Kyaungs, or monasteries, here, 
as in other places, built of wood, and tiled : 
connected with them is a small building of ma¬ 
sonry, the inside of the wall of which is co¬ 
vered with rude paintings, representing the 
Burman hell, called Nga-ra, probably a cor¬ 
ruption of the Pali Naraka, and of the coun¬ 
try or paradise of Nats. The punishments in 
the first are various—all of them physical; such 
as having the entrails torn out by vultures— 
decapitations—knocking the brains out with a 
hammer, and similar evils. Ease—idleness^— 
high seats, and numerous attendants, are, to 
judge from the paintings of this place, among 
the principal joys of the paradise of Nats. Ac¬ 
cording to the Burman creed, the Nats, like all 
other beings, are liable to evil and to change ; 
