WD540(62)

‘Ruins of the Great Temple of Mengoon.’

This stupendous ruin, which it has been shewn is visible at a distance of ten miles, stands on the western bank of the river, at the distance just named, northward of Umeerapoora. It was built by King Men-tara-gyee; and though it had not reached one-third its intended height, (which it is supposed would have been at least 500 feet) he is declared to have occupied about twenty years in its construction. There was a prophecy, however, that on its completion the Royal founder would die. His Majesty therefore was in no hurry for its fulfilment. The King died in 1819; and the enormous mass, when it had reached no higher than the square basement, was riven — torn, and shattered by a frightful earthquake in 1839, which shook nearly the whole kingdom. Captain Yule states that the height of the ruin is about 105 feet from the ground, and that ‘the solid contents must be between six and seven millions of cubic feet of brickwork.’ The terraces from which it rises are almost entirely hidden by the jungle which for thirty-six years has most probably been growing about it. The whole ponderous mass is solid, with the exception of the small chambers in which it is rumoured that enormous treasures are buried. Captain Yule’s full and interesting description of this extraordinary pile is found in Report, pages 193 to 195.