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JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
neglected on the floor: they were represented 
in a standing attitude, on pedestals, had crowns 
on their heads, and might measure in all about 
eight feet high. These, when the image of Gau¬ 
tama was in Aracan, are said to have represented 
warders or guardians of his temple. The Bur- 
mans call such images <e Balu,” a kind of demon 
or malignant being. One of them had a third 
eye in the forehead, and, 1 thought, might be in¬ 
tended for the Hindoo god Siwa. 
Within two miles of the Aracan temple is the 
tank of Aong-ben-le, which we intended to have 
visited, but the day was too far advanced. This 
tank, the only one of the kind that I have heard 
of in the country, is about two miles long, and 
one broad, and irrigates an extensive tract of 
country in its neighbourhood. It was con¬ 
structed by the late King, and, with the excep¬ 
tion of the road from Senbewgioun to Aracan, 
may be said to be the only considerable work of 
utility in the kingdom. In returning home, we 
were desirous of viewing the interior of the 
fort of Amarapura, but unexpectedly found the 
gates shut against us. Whether this arose out 
of jealousy, or caprice, or an anxiety to conceal 
from us the <e nakedness of the land,” we could 
not find out. This place, comparatively so po¬ 
pulous as late as 1819? does not now, I am in- 
