Untitled - Sabrizain.org

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crows and wild dogs often devour it in presence of the
donor, who never attempts to disturb the animals. I
saw several plates of victuals disposed of in this manner,
and understood it to be the case with all that was
brought.
" There are many small temples on the areas of
both terraces, which are neglected and suffered to fall
into decay. Numberless images of Gaudma lie indis-
criminately scattered. A pious Birman who purchases
an idol, first procures the ceremony of consecration
to be performed by the rhahaans; he then takes his
purchase to whatever sacred building is most convenient,
and there places it within the shelter of a
kioum, or on the open ground before the temple; nor
does he ever again seem to have any anxiety about its
preservation, but leaves the divinity to shift for itself.
Some of those idols are made of marble that is found
in the neighbourhood of the capital of the Birman
dominions, and admits of a very fine polish; many
are formed of wood, and gilded; and a few are of
silver: the latter, however, are not usually exposed
and neglected like the others. Silver or gold is
rarely used, except in the composition of household
gods.
" On both the terraces are a number of white cylindrical
flags, raised on bamboo poles; these flags are
peculiar to the rhahaans, and are considered as emblematic
of purity and of their sacred function. On
the top of the staff there is a henza, or goose, the
symbol both of the Birman and Pegu nations.
" From the upper projection that surrounds the
base of Shoemadoo, the prospect of the circumjacent
country is extensive and picturesque; but it is a pros-
pect of nature in her rudest state; there are few in-
habitants, and scarcely any cultivation. The hills of