An account of an embassy to the kingdom of Ava sent by the Governor-General of India, in the year 1795 / By Michael Symes.

  • Symes, Michael, approximately 1753-1809.
Date:
1800
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of an embassy to the kingdom of Ava sent by the Governor-General of India, in the year 1795 / By Michael Symes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    who were unwilling or unable to be at the expence of- a complete building ; but this entirely depended on the means and inclination of the donor. The borders of the terrace on which the temple is raised, are planted with shady trees in regular rows ; from this eminence there is a beautiful and extensive prospect; the Pegue and Rangoon rivers are seen winding through a level woody country, and the temple of Syriam, little inferior to those that have been described, stands near the junction of the streams. The rainy monsoon had now set in, and inundations were formed in seve- ral places. It would have been a more pleasing, though perhaps less pic- turesque scene, had the plains been cleared, and the fields laid out for cultivation : we could observe few marks of improvement: woods, lakes, and rivers, presented themselves on every side. The road leading from the city to the temple is formed with care; a wide causeway in the centre prevents the rain from lodging, and throws it off' to the sides : numberless little spires are ranged along the edge of the road, in which are niches to receive small images of their divinity Gaud- ma. Several kioums or monasteries lay in this direction, generally removed a short distance from the public way., under the shade of pipal or tamarind trees. The Birmans, like all the natives of the East, are fond of processions; scarce a week passes that there is not a religious display in Rangoon; either a funeral of some person who leaves sufficient to defray the expence of a pompous public burning, or the ceremony of admitting youths into the convents of the Rhahaans ; on the latter occasion parents vie with each other, and spare no cost : the principal charge consists in entertainments, and the customary presents to the Rhahaans. The age of induction is generally from eight to twelve years. When a boy is to be introduced into 3 E e