WD540(29)

‘View in Kyouk Taloung; looking over the River.’

TAKEN from the rear of the town, the front and river view of which, covering the brow of an eminence, had whilst steaming past, elicited the greatest admiration. A considerable collection of pagodas, and other religious edifices, rearing their white spires and golden tees above the rich and varied vegetation around them, were over-topped by a remarkably graceful and towering tree of the richest and lightest of green, which seemed to mark and to crown the very centre of the high ground on which the buildings were clustered. The northern end of this elevated ground may be observed cut down and faced with brickwork, in which mysterious looking cave-like entrances are seen. These were understood to be the the residences of some of the monastic body.

The general features of the place, the fields, which appeared to be in cultivation, divided by hedge-rows, bore more a European than a Burman aspect.

This sketch was taken under the shadow of a ruined pagoda, on a rising bit of land, which was so fenced about with briers and thorns as to be difficult of approach.