WD540(34)

‘Panoramic view of Umeerapoora. Looking S.W.’

A TOUR with Mr. Spears through the city in search of a favorable elevation from whence to secure a panoramic view of the capital, resulted in selection of the residence of Greneral D’Orgoni, who politely afforded every facility for the object. This house is situated not within the enclosed city, but in that part or street of the suburb which lies westerly between the city wall and the river, called the Yattan. It was built by Moung-kyouk-long, one of the late King’s officials, and Commander-in-Chief of the army at Shwe Gheen sent to oppose the British during the late war, which was broken off by the successful rebellion of the present King. Moung-kyouk-long was recalled, and a few days after his arrival, died. Whether his death was in the ‘ordinary’ course of nature, or out of it, appears doubtful, as his property was confiscated, and the building given by the Prince to an Armenian of the name of Markar David. The upper apartments were assigned to General D’Orgoni during his residence in Umeerapoora.

The ornamented brick building on the right is a Mohummudan mosque; a description of edifice of which there are many exceedingly pretty specimens in various parts of Umeerapoora. The ordinary brick houses observed in the street running through the centre of this view, are occupied — some by Burmese, and others by native-born Mohummudans. Elsewhere, similar houses are occupied by the Armenian residents, of whom there are a few living in different parts of the city.

The tall posts observable near a group of Pagodas on the left, and which are surmounted by the ‘‘Henza’,’ or sacred goose, peacock, duck, or kite, (for to which of these birds it is really a-kin seems matter of some doubt) are termed ‘Tagoon-dyn’. The erection of these posts is considered an act of devotional piety.

Upon the opposite or western shore are seen the Sagàin hills, studded throughout their length with white pagodas; and at the extremity to the left, the hill and pagoda, from the terrace of which the first and distant view of Umeerapoora was obtained. (‘Plate 31’). The whole range of these hills contains not only limestone but marble beds, from which Professor Oldham states ‘much fine stone could be had,’ — -but they are ‘not quarried for such purposes; all the marble used in their sculptured images, &c., being brought from the marble hills about thirty-five miles north of the capital.’ ‘(Mr. Oldham’s Report, page 24.)’

Between Sagàin and the opposite shore may be observed the Mission steamers at anchor; it having been necessary, consequent on the rapid falling of the river, to send them down below the city to a sufficiently deep and secure channel.