WD540(20)

‘Panoramic view of Pagân, looking N.E. by N.’

THE marvels of the ancient city of Pagan, with, its ten miles of ruins, eight centuries old, had long been the subject of conversation and anxious curiosity to the members of the Mission, — and their realization rather exceeded than fell short of expectation. Of their claim to that interest, perusal of the Secretary, Captain Yule’s Report, from page 36 to 62, will be the best exposition.

These drawings were taken from the upper terrace of the great Temple ‘Gauda Palen’ — ‘which is about 180 feet in height.’ (‘See Report, page 42’). Observed from this elevation and long distance, the innumerable temples, both those in repair and those in ruins, covering so vast a space, and viewed under the dazzling influence of a burning atmosphere, reflected from a sterile sandy plain, presented to the delineator forms from which the niceties of detail were necessarily excluded. These are pretty amply provided in the descriptions and sketches by the Secretary Captain Yule, Capt. Tripe’s photographs, and Lieutenant Heathcote’s measurements.

The large and ordinary shaped pagoda with three lesser pagodas in its front, is supposed to be one of the most ancient. It has been kept in repair, and is known as the ‘Shwe Zeegong’. (?) The more remarkable building further on, bearing so striking a resemblance to some of the Hindoo Temples in southern India, is called the ‘‘Bodhi’’, or ‘‘Bauddhi’’ a close and detailed view of which is found in Captain Tripe’s Photograph, No. 13. A very singularly formed pagoda, called the ‘‘Boo-Phya’’ or Pumpkin-Pagoda, of which a near view will be found in Plate 26, may be observed on the bank of the river near the steamers; and the situation of other buildings delineated in the ‘Report’ or in Captain Tripe’s plates, may here be detected. The bluff looking temple seen in the far distance, north of the ruins, emerging from a forest of foliage, is the celebrated and very ancient golden pagoda, called the ‘Shwe Zeegong’, or ‘Shwee-tsee-goon’, founded by ‘the 42nd King of Pagan, A.D. 1064’ ‘(Report, pages 63, 225 and XXX.)’

This section of the Panorama exhibits the principal part of the town, near to the river. The compact building, or group of buildings, in the centre of the drawing, surrounded by a high bamboo wall, is the dwelling of the Governor.