BO O T A JJ. 97
Oo m mauniepaimee aom\ A small square temple, erected to contain,
an image, stood in the way.. A 8imilaoj$mlding> isiseea, .placed like a
centinel, as it were, by the roadside, on each approach towards every
consecrated habitation, proportionate iu dimensions to-the .magnitude
and importance of the edifice with which itis Gonneeiedij on ’each.pf J,he
three great roads, that lead to Tajssaisjadon, ,a .very ,spacioi^^*ibnel|^s
fonrsdi They have one small doorway, wMch^aJwg^s,remains closed,
at least'1,never, eotildNsucceed in my endeavour 'to obtain .a view of
the interim^** yet such is the superstitiousreSpeepofithe inhabitants for
its contents, that they .constantly uaebvei the i np Hhiifit ra v e H i rw
©n ht»Al&ck, dismount and walk while^hey passjbsr them.'
1 remember tq have,seen one^of these building^twhieh #ed
t&ithe 'junction of the Hatchieu with the Tehtof<daiei^i&m?r Kepla.
They are'often placed at the meeting :<sf two> principal roads." I have
seerfetherr? also at the base of a remarkable mountain, and they, aore bat
variably met with, at the entrance of every capital village.
There is another sort of monument occasionally substituted, in places
of inferior consequence; it is a long wall, commonly about twelve or
fifteen feet in length, six feet high, and two deep, with a centre distinguished
by being thicker and higher than the sides. On both faces,
near the fop, are inserted large tablets, with the words Oom maunie
■ c ©f this form' of words, to; which ideas of peculiar sanctity are. annexed by the inhabitants
of Bootan and Tibet I could never obtain a satisfactory:'explan ition. It is
frequently engraven .on the rocks'in largettnd! deep characters, and sometimes-1 have
seen it on the sides oljlills : the letters; which, are formed by means hfi stones.fixed in the
earth, arc of so vast a magnitude, as to be visible ait a very considerable distance. ,,