TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
125 
ently secured by the superstition of the people, 
who still profess the same religion with their 
founders. 
The vast extent of the ruins of Pugan, and 
the extent and splendour of its religious edifices, 
may be considered by some as proofs of consi¬ 
derable civilization and wealth among the An¬ 
cient Burmans; but I am convinced there is 
no foundation whatever for such an inference. 
The building of a temple among the Burmans 
is not only a work of piety, but the chief spe¬ 
cies of luxury and ostentation, in which those 
who have become possessed of wealth either by 
industry or extortion, are permitted to indulge ; 
and at Pugan we have the accumulated labour 
of twelve centuries so expended. 
In returning home, after spending four hours 
among the ruins, a small temple was pointed 
out to us on the bank of the river. This, to 
which we paid a visit, has nothing remarkable 
in its form, and is evidently now a modern 
structure in very good order. It was stated to 
us however by our guides, that the original 
temple on this spot was the first eVer built at 
Pugan, and that it was constructed by Phru 
Chau-ti, the third king of Pugan, whose reign 
began in the year of Christ 167, and ended 
in 242. 
