WD540(35)

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

THIS view embraces a further part of the town on the river side, together with a continuation of the Sagain hills. On the extreme right and furthest point of land may be seen a mound, which to the eye of the observer is unintelligible in character. It is the ruin of the celebrated and gigantic Temple of Mengoon; of the real bulk of which some conception will be formed from the fact that the distance, measured from the point of view, is upwards of ten miles. (‘See Map of Umeerapoora, Tsagàin and Ava, by Major Grant Allan, in Report’.) This temple, when about a third part only completed, was destroyed by an Earthquake’. (See Sketches Nos. 61, 6.2, & 63, and Captain Tripe’s Photographs, Nos. 97 & 98.)’

The numerous green islands, with which the river is studded, are cultivated, and produce in great abundance a variety of vegetables for the Umeerapoora market. In the centre of some of these Islands may be observed small villages, which are occupied very considerably by people performing certain duties in and about the Palace; in return for which service, portions of land are assigned to them here and elsewhere. Many villages, also, fringe the margin of the river on the Sagàin side.

The very elegant and elaborately formed pagoda in this picture is called the ‘Set-thau-ya-phiya’, the height of which is stated to be about fifty cubits, or 75 feet. The ornamented post near the entrance, which is seen guarded by a pair of the usual leonine warders, is another form of the ‘Tugoon-dyn’, having, in place of the ‘Henza’, a richly carved, winged and gilt figure, believed to represent a ‘Nat’, or spirit.

Here, as in Part 1, brick and plaster buildings may be seen mixed up in odd confusion with the ordinary mat and bamboo dwellings, which latter are roofed with split-bamboo, worked up in a variety of ways, after the manner of thatch. Some are allowed a long kind of grass, but in the town, bamboo and tiles are almost exclusively used. The cart, to which a pair of bullocks are seen yoked, and proceeding down the road, is the ordinary travelling carriage of the country, and is termed ‘Hlay-yin’.