The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-09-19
A Heather Tcmpic.

Heather Temple.
Rev. Eugenia Kincaid, for many
years missionary in the Burman
Empire, has recently returned to
this country, and is now lecturing
on the condition Of the heather to
crowded auditories. In one of his
recent discourses delivered in
Brooklyn, as reported in the Daily
Advertiser, he described heather
temple, which we have never seen
paralelled. 1t stands in the city of
Arva, or the golden city, which for
800 years has been the capital of the
Burmese Empire. The foundations
of this temple are of solid masonry,
composed of bricks of the best ma.
terials.-It is two thousand feet
square, the walls being eight feet
thick, and seventy feet high. On
the top of the walls rest two rows of
massive pillars. At each corner of
the wall rises beautiful spire. On
the top of each spire is placed
huge bar iron, surrounding which
is an iron network, 10 feet in diam
cter, in the shape of spread UNI
brella. On the bottom edge of this,
are suspended bells of every size
and tone. A piece of bright copper
is attached to every clapper, so ar
ranged that when the wind is strong
every bell is set ringing.
On the top of this temple is a Sec
ond one, $50 feet square and 80
feet high, and on each corner rises
a beautiful tower, with its compli-
ment of bells.-On the top of this
second stands a third temple, 100
feet square and 80 feet high, each
corner having its spire and bells;
and surrounding this third is
fourth and last temple, IS feet
square and 10 feet high, each cor
ner having its spire and bells. From
the top of this fourth temple ascends
a magnificent spirc, with an i'm
mense iron network at the summit
Having numerous bells suspended
from its edge. On walking along
by the temple when the wind is
strong, and all these bells, compris-
ing an endless variety of tones, are
ringing, a wonderful sensation is
produced, as though music was de-
Sccnding around from the clouds.
The whole interior of the temple
is succeed, and has the appearance
of polished marble. In the centre
is an immense throne, on which the
king of Arva Sits-on the throne is
placed gigantic image. Mr.. Kin
caid had the curiosity TO climb up
for the purpose of measuring some
portions of it, and from the end of
the thumb to the second Joint, was
a distance of Is inches. Every part
of the image was in strict proper
ton, an idea, therefore, of the size
may be formed. 1t was placed there
at the cost of 10000 rupees, or
100000, Besides this, in inches in
the walls, are 500 other images, each
one larger than life, each one upon
a throne, with inscriptions on the
wall directly above them. On the
walls are other images in tiers, high
or and higher, until they reach the
lofty ceiling. Look about you which
way you will, in this immense build
ing, and It seems as though the gods
were looking down upon you, where
ever you turn your eyes. Look mp
this 274 feet of solid mason work.
dedicated to idolatry, and to the
thousands upon thousands Worship
pers, who pour in their offerings of
gold like water, and fancy, if YOU
can, the expense of this idolatrous
worship.
The temple with all its images,
the 1000 bells---thc soul pture, which
adorns the building within and with
out-thc brick and stone work, and
the lofty towers cost more money
than all the churches in New York.
1t was begun and finished within
two years. Thousands were ma
king brick, and more laying them,
and thousands upon thousands en-
gagged in the other various depart
mcnts. We can hardly calculate
the cost of the building. Thousands
of poor men gave two months labor
to The work, others four, and but few
less.
Praying Machine. On the high
road of Japan, every mountain, ball,
or cliff, is conSecrated to some divi-
nifty, to whom travellers arc rcquir-
ed to address long prayers. As this
would occupy ton much time for
those who are in haste, n machine
is used, consisting Of an upright
post, with an iron plate, set on lhe
top. The turning round of this
plate, upon which the prayer Is en-
graved, is deemed oquivoieht to re-
peating the prayer
l.