The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-03-02
M1sG&lIaneous.
From the London Quarterly Review.
An Extinct Civilization in Cochin China
and Cam bodia.

An Extinct Civilization in Cochin China
and Cambodia.
LAKE IN cAMBoDIA AND THE ANo1pNr
INHABITANTS OF IT'S SHORES.
Prior to the visit of Admiral Bonard in
his steamer, M. Mouhot has sailed through
the great Lake of Cambodia in a native
boat, aud pronounced that it is more than
12O miles long, and must be at least 400
in circumference. Its 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 i'll the year the
lake is full, but it grows shallower by
evaporation, its width continuing near
ly unaltered. Its waters are literally
swarming with excellent fish of every va
riety.
On the banks of this immense lake the
Inhabitants are of different races. There
are amongst them half.savage and nearly
Independent tribes, of whose origin al
most nothing is known-a people ethno-
graphically distinct from the dominant
race, and keeping aloof from the more
civilized communities. These people are
called Shiames by the Cambodians, and
are said to be of Malay origin, the de-
scendants Of the ancient Tsiamp ois, who
inhabited the once powerful kingdom at
Isiampa or C!ampa. Be this as it NAV,
there Is abundant evidence to show that
great people oncee inhabited the shores
of this lake for their remains are still
to be seen in the mighty ruins of Ongeor,
which Nj Mouhot pronounces to be grand
er than anything left to US by Greece or
Rome.
These ruins arc situated between the
northern shore of the great lake and
range OF mountains that divide the Laos
territory from Cambodia the most per-
feet OF them are not more than fifteen
miles from the lake. After the traveller
has passed across an arid plain, and
through dense forest, the first objects of
interest are seen at the angles Of an es
planade, where the forms Of two colossal
lions sculpturcd out ola solid rock aston.
ish him by the appearance of high art
IN the midst OF u desolate Wilderness
This is the entrance to the Bhuddist lem.
pie of Ongeor, where gigantic flights of
steps lead up to terrace with liz futed
columns, surmounted by capitals formed
in every case by single block of Stone
Their basement, like that of the whole
building, is ornamented with very beau,i-
full sculptured mouldings. varied in style
and entirely covered with delicate rose and
arabesque carvings, worked with the CHS.
el, with taste and skill equally wouder-
fuI. After passing through grand por
tico, u second and third terrace are reach
ed by flights of steps, and at each landing
extensive galleries are seen with triple
rooted porticos aud double colonuades, hav.
ing richly carved mouldings above the
columns. On the walls are bas reliefs
representing the public events of the an
cient kingdom; besides multitude of
fabulous animals, and groups of men, ami.
mails, and birds, illustrative of the dress,
manners, and customs of the people, of
whose language and authentic history
nothing is as at present known. Here a
military procession-bodies of soldiers
headed by chiefs, some mounted on ele-
plants, others on horse back, and each