noisome effects of their atmosphere: Til every other direction the eye looks
over a boundless plain, checquered by a >vilcl intermixture of wood and
water.
Not being able to procure any satisfactory information respecting the
antiquity of Shoemadoo, I paid a visit to the Siredaw, or superior Rha-
Kaan of the country ; his abode was situated in a shady grove o f tamarind
trees., about five miles south-east of the city ; every object seemed to correspond
with the years and dignity o fth e possessor. The trees were lofty,
a bamboo' railing protected his dwelling from the attack of wild beasts ; a
neat reservoir contained clear water, a little garden supplied roots, and
Rig retreat was well stocked with fruit trees: some young Rliahaans lived
with him; and administered to his wants with pious respect. Though
much emaciated, he seemed lively, and in full possession -eMiis mental
faculties ; he said his age was eighty-seven. The Rhahaans, although
subsisting on charity, never solicit alms, or accept of money ; I therefore
presented this venerable prelate of the order with a piece of cloth, which
was repaid by a grateful benediction. He told me, that in the convulsions
ofthe Pegue empire, most of their valuable records had been destroyed,
but it was traditionally believed that the temple of Shoemadoo was
founded 2300 years ago, by two merchants, brothers, who camé to Pegue
from Tallowmeou, a district one day’s journey east of Martaban. These
pious traders at first raised a temple onë Birman cubit* in height;.' Sigea-
mee, or the spirit that presides over the elements, and directs the thunder
and lightning, in the space of one night increased the size of the temple to
two cubits ; the merchants then added another cubit', which Sigeamee
doubled in the same short time; the building thus attained the magnitude
T w e n t y - tw o in ch e s .
6ft twelve cubits; When the-merehants d e siste ^ tl^ d , the temple was afterwards
gradually, increased- by suecessive'mo-narefis ofiPegue, the registers
of ywhosetnames, wRbsr the. amount of ^ i r ^ n ^ i b u t i ^ n s y had been lost in
th'e-'general ruin; nor»coMctehe^infor-tnStimetjQff-any• authentic .archives that
estaped-- tire?-.wreck. - *
, In tferafernoon- Dr.vEuehananj$a<fcompauiedt.'me>. in a^tid.eft'ab'out
a ’ mile>'andBarbalfi to fchfr-eaiste^aTfkkf .frhet-fertt’.githolfasf, and,1 Wild
. -«fiirrlotWiflrfo.fe -to, thef difeh^) and#f^^r‘rqadj lay tin oil
wood»., intersected*' byt’diequtnt -pathwais iAVc s i»w nio-i other, liabita-
Jion, t}ian''l?efe and’th u c aspbm *RcguU'Vhut; Jbi noHt'lj'lthin'shtUoi oFa.
clump ro f b am b o o s •" bufestherfmenrorials« ok' loi ruuwgprpulorisnuss1 were
thickly* strewed: hillocks o f ikx.ayodqnusonry,*i dveted' w-itli tha.'h^llt
mould which-time sieneiatcsrupon a heap ok'niiblnsh, andwtlies wains -of
iunnuoui temples, met the cyfe.iriJTveiyiiquditcifjM lonArihexo rnal ml holy
monuments w,e’ couldt'trace- the extent ol ithussulmi.b.s, whiifijnetaiiied
scarce any vestiges,t.of.fongeif gl'andeUp;« -merAfe^py.qd; LojiRw^iijjoiiL
WCHinpos uln l io |ilu i t* ’ We saw.mjjirgai'deus oi, Juolosuresy^mwi&iii)
< ultivatiou on that side of. the; fort. Imt thup.ithytd.ys lK.ir%,tn>d.b\,c a-Uilfi,'
indicated that the countiy faither on wast .betterinhabited,. anrJ^iXrobubly
m.aj.st^ei.ofrhigher improvement.',
o l Returning1 from q u i t exeUrsicfn, we metHMr. ^^jsd^who,; early -inythb
morning,' attended by bis o.wreservantsy
to the west side ol the livei, to amuse himself w ith an laws slidolimi £ he kund
an inconsiderable village on the-.opp'osite bank, in the neighbourhood of
which there wxre rice plantations that extended 'aninile.wcst.naril.: ybesond
these be entered a thick weody.cousjstiiig,
trees, si-phrough this wilderiiess he penetrated ninej^piiten- miles^ without
c ' •