fine, but particularly the Gate at the great Entry is a piece of admirable workmanship compos'd of carven Images and branched work, or foliage. The Architecture resembles that of the Temple near Pka'thon, the above

1690.

FIG. 16. The front of the said temple represented more at large.

describ'd famous Pyramid, both which are represented in Figs. 15, 16. The middle of the Temple is for ornament's sake cover'd with four roofs, that are bent, and lie one over another. The lowermost of those roofs jets

1690.

out on each side of the Temple like a wing which is sup-
ported by eight columns. The inside is like all other
Temples pretty dark, there being no windows, so that
all the light can come in only through the door and some
holes in the wall. The Porch is rais'd above the ground,
and cover'd with several roofs, which are supported by
eight Columns with gilt Capitals standing in two rows.
The outer row of Columns is join'd together by a red
Lettice or Grate, before the frontispiece of the Temple,
to preserve the precious doors in it. There are three
folding pair of doors in this frontispiece, each pair con-
sisting of two valves, which are very nicely and skilfully
carv'd into three Layers of branches twisted together, and
adorn'd with leaves and flowers, among which appear
several small Images of their Idols of different forms and
postures, some of them having four arms and hands
holding divers Weapons and Instruments, the whole well
proportion'd and adorn'd with gold and different colours.
Next to the Temple stands a small open house mark'd with
Lit. a,
in the midst of which hangs a bell gilt over, of
two yards diameter, which they strike with a hammer in
the mornings and evenings to call the Monks to their
prayers and devotions which they perform singing in
choirs with a trembling voice, as the Monks in Europe
sing Psalms. (Fig. 17.)

Lit. B. is another temple like the former, only without so many ornaments. The porch of it consists of two open rooms adorn'd with Plaister-work and gilt small Idols. The Floor was cover'd with heaps of large palm-leaves, being the remains of their Pali, or religious Books, which when they grow old and worn out, are here laid aside in this manner, as in a sacred place. In viewing these Temples I took notice, as of something particular, that I met with no images of beasts, and Idols of a monstrous figure, as the Brahmines and Chinese have in theirs, for all their idols within the Temples are represented in human shape, either sitting, or standing, tho' without them, as for instance on the gates, entries, pyramids, particularly in

these two squares, we are now speaking of, appear as by way of ornament many monstrous images, with hideous frightful faces.

Lit. C. is a Pyramid in the form of a steeple, gilt over from the top to half its height, and standing on a pedestal rais'd above the ground, and taken in with a square walk. The uppermost point is surrounded with a Crown of large extent turn'd upside down, on which hang small gilt Bells, or Cymbals, which being mov'd by the wind give a sound. Lit. D, is a small wooden House, in which is kept a very heavy Sedan, painted with divers colours.

1690.

FIG. 17. An open house with a bell hanging in it.

Lit. E is a vaulted Chapel with a bulky Idol like that of Bacchus, call'd by the Brahmans Viccaswara. It is much beyond the ordinary size of a man, strongly gilt all over, turning with his Face smiling towards the Temple last mention'd. Under and above it and on the sides stood several other smaller Idols, as is represented in Fig. 14. Before it were rails, on which appear'd the marks of wax Candles, that had been burnt there.

Lit. F. is another building vaulted and like the former. Within on the middle of the wall was engraven a Figure partly colour'd and partly gilt, in some measure resembling a foot with four Toes, three Spans long, and one and a half broad, which they hold as something very sacred. (See Fig. 14.) Under it were plac'd divers small Idols.

The Pyramids standing in those Squares are built in Pyramids.