The romantic East: Burma, Assam, & Kashmir - Khamkoo

CHAPTER VIII
MANDALAY
(continued)
Sermons in stones The Eindawya pagoda The game of
chinlon A Burmese pwe The Great Temple and the
Mahamani.
OUTSIDE of Fort Dufferin near the east gate
is the
fine old Taikdaw monastery, whose carvings have
gone
to ruin and whose basements shelter litters of
pigs and flocks of rabbit-eared goats. Near the
base of Mandalay Hill, around which there is a
drive, and to the top of which there is more than
one ceremonial road, is the enclosure of the
Kuthodaw, or " Charity " pagoda built by Thebaw's
uncle. The southern entrance has well-carved teak
gates, the central pagoda is 100 feet high, and
on the platform was an old boat. Around the
central pagoda are arranged 729 square pavilions,
under each of which is an upright slab, like a
tombstone, carved from top to bottom with black
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