TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
28 ?j 
“ A representation of the deity’s journey to 
Heaven, which he performed by setting his 
right foot on the summit of Mount Yu-gan-to, 
and his left on the summit of Mount Meru.” 
“ A representation of the deity’s descent from 
Heaven, accompanied by the celestial host, by a 
triple stair created for the occasion ; the portion 
on the right hand being of gold, that on the 
left of silver, and that in the middle of ruby.” 
Here, as in almost all the modern Burman 
temples I have seen, the fanes containing the 
principal images of Buddha are of carved wood, 
gilt all over. Within the area was pointed out 
to us a circular fabric with a domed roof: this 
was the library of the temple, but the doors 
being shut, and none of the attendants at hand, 
we were unable to gain admission. Judging 
from this specimen of the Burman temples, and 
what I had before seen, I have no scruple in 
considering that they are generally inferior to 
those of Siam, both in magnitude and splen¬ 
dour : the images especially are much fewer and 
smaller. I had not yet seen a single statue in 
brass, nor do I believe the art of casting them 
in metal is known to the Burmans, although 
daily practised by the Siamese. This, however, 
is accounted for by the abundance of fine white 
marble of which the Burmans are possessed, and 
