The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-04-05
[From the London Huarterly Review
An Extinct Civilization tn Co
chin China and CambOdia.

through the great Lake of Cambodia in
a native boat and pronounced that it is
more than 120 miles long, aud must be
at least 400 in circumference. It's
Cambodian name is Touli-Sap. The
entrance to it from the Me-kong River
is by branch Of that great stream,
which joins the main body about fifty
miles south of the lake. For more than
FIVE months in the year the lake is full
but it grows shallower by evaporation.
its width continuing nearly unaltcred
Its waters are literally swarming with
excellent fish Of every variety.
On the banks Of this immense lake
the inhabitants are Of different races
There are amongst them half-savago and
nearly independent tribes, Of whose ori.
gin almost nothing is known--a people
ethnographically distinct from the doni.
nant race, aud keeping aloof from the
more civilized communities. These peo.
pie are called Shiancs by the Caniho-
dams, and arc "a d to be OF Malay origin,
the descendants of the ancient Tsiain-
pois, who inhabited the once powerful
kingdom at Tsiampa or Ciampa De
this as il may, there is abundant evi.
donee to show that great people ouce
inhabited the shores of this lake for
their remains are still to be seen in the
mighty ruins of Ongoor, which VI Mou-
hot pronounces to be grander than any
thing left to rs by Greece or Rome.
These ruins are situated between the
northern shore Of the great lake and a
range Of mountains that divide tho Laos
territory from Cambodia the most per.
| feet OF them are not more than fifteen
miles from the lake After the travel
Ter has passed across an arid plain, aud
| through a dense forest, the first objects
OF interest are seen at the angles of an
csplauadc, where the forms OF two col
lossa lions scuipturcd out Of n solid
rock astouish him by the appearance Of
high art 10 the midst Of dcnolate viii
derncss This is the entrance to the
Bhuddst Temple Of Ongoor, whcrc gi-
ganlic flights of steps lead up 70 a ter
Z lAtt WIN 4 NNAiA hNNAA4hMf WhN iAiNhAfl
ted by capitals formed Ia every case by
single block Of atouc Their basement,
like that Of the ghole building, Is orDa-
mcuted with very beautiful seulplurcd
mouldIugs. varied ia siyIc and entirely
covered with delicate rose aud arabos-
que carvings. worked with the cAlsol
with taste aud skill equally wonder.
iul After passing through "a grand
porlicp. . second and third terrace are
reached by flights OF step. aud at each
hul.ug extensive CALLER ca aT" seen
WITH tuplcragicd pou.eoe and double
coIauuadcs, having richly caugd m0ul.
diugs above the columns. bu the walls
are bls.rcieis representing the public
events OF the ancient kingdom bezldc-
q multitude ui fabulous animals aud
groups oi men, animals. and birds, b..
Illustrative at the dJces. manners, aud
customs oi the people oi wboso language
aud authentic history nothing D. ar at
prc-cu, Auoau llcga a military pro
crssiou-bolias %. soldiers headed by
chiefs. some mounted yu elephants, 9TH.
ers on horse back. aud each corps car
rylng different arms, laucrs, halbcTds,
Iayelns. sabrcs, aud bows--thcrc a
triumphl march all depicting the
warlikc character ol the nation Again
there are representations 81 the Iludoo
Paradise, swarga. and the internal rex
ions. Nraima with the rewards aud
punlshmeuts appropriate 10 each
Strange and wonderful are these ruins
that seem uou ouly 10 have started into
the light OF day after being hid 80 long
IN the gloom OF barbaruus ages. Ia the
language OF the author:
"lhe temple Of Ougeor is the most
beautiful and best preserved Of all the
remains, and the lirst also which pre-
scnts itself to the eye Of the traveller,
making him forget the tatigues OF the
Journey, filling him with admiration aud
delight, such as would be experienced
on finding q yerdant oasis in the sandy
deserts Suddenly, as if by encbant-
meut, he seems to be transported from
bIrbarlsm 10 civilization, from profound
darkness 10 light What strikes the
observer with not less admiration than
the grandeur, regularity and beatty OF
these majestic buildings, is the immense
size and prodgious number Of the blocks
Of stone of which they are constructed
Iu this temple alone are as many as
1882 columns. What means Of trans
port, what multitude Of workmen,
must this have required, seeing that the
mountain out Of which the stone was
hcSn is thirty miles distant In each
block are TO be seen holes 2! centimcters
in diameter, and in depth, the mum
bers varying with the size OF the blocks;
but the columns and the sculptured
portions Of the building bear no traces
of them. According to Cambodian
legend, these are the prints Of the fingers
OF a giant, who after kncading enormous
quantity Of clay, had cut it into blocks
and carved it into hard and at the same
time light stone by pouring over it some
marvellous liquid
"The principal entrance forms a long
gallery with central tower, and two
others of less altitude. The portico of
each tower is formed Of four projecting
columns with staircase At each ex-
tromity are similar porticoes, beyond
which, but Immediately contiguous
thereto, is a high door or gateway, on
the same level, which served for the
passage ofvehicles. Form constant use
wheels have worn two deep ruts in the
massive Aagstones with which the
ground is paved" X "All
the mouldlnea scnlntnres. and bas re.