The Great Golden Pagoda of the Burmese.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 134, 26 December 1885, Page 6

The Great Golden Pagoda of the Burmese.

In the course of his lecture at Sydney on '* Burmah and the Burmese," Dr. Robertson made the following observation with regard to the Great Golden Pagoda of Rangoon :— " At tke nothern end of these lakes the Great Golden Pagoda, of all shrines the most sacred and revered, lifts its proud head far into the ambient air. I,t would be difficult and tedious to describe the mental effect that its enormous size and beautiful symmetry impart. A long and strangely-carved colonnade covers a sloping path and leads to a platform ofmasonry that occupies many acres of surface. The angles of this masonry are supported by winged griffins, while the faces are adorned by allegorical figures. Around are niches or shrines containing alabaster figures of Gautama; domes covered by glass tiles reliever the effect of solidity. Out of this platform the solid mass of the Pagoda rises, ever diminishing as it ascends with graceful curves, in thesha^e of a huge' pomegranate,. to form the tapering spire of the Pagoda to a height of 385 feet. The whole mass is entirely covered with gold plates or gilding, The spire fs surmounted by a peculiarly beautiful" Etee, or umbrelU. And this, thou'ghapparently small, measures 50 feet n height and 36 feet in diameter.' It is composed of a diminishing series of fretwork bronze rings gilded, intricately braced together, and set with precious stones. Each of the many rings is hung with little bells, while the crevices are filled with gold and silver Gautamas. Above this umbrella is really a large vane,' but it can scarce be distinguished. This vane is decorated with emeralds and rubies to the value of over £80,000, the gift of the late King of Upper Burmah, And above the vane is an inverted glass bottle, as a protection from lightning, the Burnese being perfectly aware, of the non-conducting virtue of glass. Along the retaining walls, are numerous buildings, spine containing alabaster. Gautamas of all sizes, each wearing that meaningless stereotyped aspect of tranquillity that' is associated with a Buddha. Qthers contain .bells suspended from the jaws of brazen tigers. The outside of the bells is a, mass of highly relieved figures of animals. Pilgrims k as they pass, strike' these bells by means of deer horns, and evoke continual and sonorous peals of sound. The golden Pagoda Vas erected in the 6th century 8.C., and it "has been kept in a perfect state of repair. On the occasion of a festival the niches and eaves are covered withminutepotscontainingfragrantflowerk The chapels are filled with devout., worship , pers. .Thousands of coloured candles shea a dim religious light on the placid features of the Gautamas. The immense platform teems with pulsating life. Every one,performs some good action. One gilds, an abraded spotof the huge structure ; others adorn a niche with flowers. Infants deposit candles or incense ; others give alms. The sun - lights tip the great burnished spire with a dazzling, glory, and seems to spiritualise every, jobject it enfolds. In the gardens, beneath, the golden Pagoda) the educated, mind finds congenfal, occupation; in,* the s contemplation, of^ a very world = of beauty-riri ;artrfip}al lakes, cascades, and rustic, '.bridges, in- charm; ing .flowers endless^ variety of luxuriant tropioa] plants and trees. {j t^, eye delightatq linger on. this.maiterbiepe of; .decorative \ft t i on ,the , beautifuf colours,, of ;birdsj andt insects : that % flit ?;j among i fairy,; 'scenes where.thlb;6ar. : i%ay f ured I by toe magic .of <thaVdeep/ and^olemn.sjlenqeithaiti is, sq itropical! VuSlMfl t iax^^wt,^ Bjrrpundin,ffs.t iThesfierci6#glit>s^^^ ;green%£ f oJiag^tiaMfldaßcegt oiy theajtill, >w*tef* ftMifigb WPI% gmVmWwmM Ipiwt-^whjffc;;^