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170 BIRMAH.
rests on an iron axis fixed in the building, and is fur-
ther secured by large chains strongly rivetted to the
spire. Round the lower rim of the tee are appended
a number of bells, which, agitated by the wind, make
a continual jingling. The tee is gilt, and it is said to
be the intention of the king to gild the whole of the
spire. All the smaller pagodas are ornamented with
proportionable umbrellas of similar workmanship,
which are likewise encircled with small bells. The
extreme height of the edifice, from the level of the
country, is 361 feet, and above the interior terrace,
331 feet.
" On the south-east angle of the upper terrace,
there are two handsome saloons, or Mourns, lately
erected, the roofs composed of different stages, supported
by pillars : we judged the length of each to be
about 60 feet, and the breadth 30. The ceiling of one
is already embellished with gold leaf, and the pillars
are lackered; the decoration of the other is not yet
completed. They are made entirely of wood. The
carving on the outside is laborious and minute : we
saw several unfinished figures of animals and men in
grotesque attitudes, which were designed as ornaments
for different parts of the building. Some images of
Gaudma, the supreme object of Birman adoration, lay
scattered around. ^
" At each angle of the interior and higher terrace,
there is a temple sixty-seven feet high, resembling, in
miniature, the great temple : in front of that in the
south-west corner, are four gigantic representations,
in masonry, of Palloo, or the evil genius, half beast,
half human, seated on their hams, ea.ch with a large
club on the right shoulder. The pundit who accom-
panied me, said that they resemble the Rakuss of
the Hindoos. These are guardians of the temple.