the largest and best, and is of an irregular square
shape. The inside walls and floors are plastered with
clay, and painted with allegorical representations of
Boodh, &c. From the vestibule the principal apartment
is entered by broad folding-doors, studded with
SOUTHERN TEMPLE.
circular copper bosses, and turning on iron hinges. It
is lighted by latticed windows, sometimes protected
outside by a bamboo screen. Owing to the great thickness
of the walls (three or four feet), a very feeble light
is admitted. In the principal temple, called “ Dugang,”
six hexagonal wooden columns, narrowed above, with
peculiar broad transverse capitals, exquisitely gilded
and painted, support the cross-beams of the roof, which
are likewise beautifully ornamented. Sometimes a
curly-maned gilt lion is placed over a column, and it
MIDDLE TEMPLE.
is always furnished with a black bushy ta il: squares,
diamonds, dragons, and groups of flowers, vermilion,
green, gold, azure, and white, are dispersed with great
artistic taste over all the beams; the heavier masses of
colour being separated by fine white lines.
The altars and idols are placed at the opposite end;
and two long parallel benches, like cathedral stalls,