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BIRMAI1. 257
of Hindoo mythology,) is contained the sacred foot,
consisting of a large slab of grey schist, about 3 feet
10 inches long, and 3 feet broad, on which appears a
rude representation of five mis-shapen toes and the
side of a foot. Close behind this was a smaller, which
I secured. These passages contain double, triple, and
quadruple rows of fanes and niches, each containing a
large figure of Buddha, accompanied with prodigious
numbers of smaller dimensions.
"Near the entrance is an inscription in ancient
Deva-Nagri character, upon a large slab of sand-stone,
the letters of which are remarkably distinct, and the
writing legible throughout, so far as has yet been
cleared. The square courts in front of these buildings
exhibit numerous traces of tesselated pavements, or
mosaic work, of brick and stone; and some of the
temples contain metallic images of Buddha, so large
that the nail of his finger, in one instance, measures
upwards of half a foot! The metal of which these
stupendous idols are composed, seems an alloy resem-
bling the tutenaffue, or white copper, so commonly
made use of in India. The bells in front of the pagoda
are remarkably fine. One in particular is of immense
size, and entirely covered with inscriptions in the
Birman language."*
Arracan is situated in lat. 20 40' N., long. 93 5' E.
The city stands about two tides' journey from the sea,
on the west side of the Arracan river, which here
expands to a noble sheet of water, although it has
but a short course, rising in the hills to the N.E.
The harbour, however, cannot be approached without
hazard during the south-west monsoon, on account of
* Asiat. Journ., vol. xx. p. 695. The Rukheng is the more
ancient and primitive dialect of the Birman, and the character is
very similar. See Asiat. Res., vol. x, p. 222.