The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-11

Several Burmnn wonders.


Inc following descriptions are extracted from
the Journal of Rev. A. 7. Rose, as published in
the Missionary Mdgaz1ne:-
opposite the great Mingoon pagoda is a beau
tliul piece of wooded land, covered with mango
and other trees, called Nau-dau-Kwon the royal
palace island. Here it is said the great Bodau
KING built splendid palace, where he spent
part OF his time while the great Mngoon
pagoda was being erected. As we hugged close
In to the Shore we found the current very
swift and at one place there was q fall
OF about two feet over reef of rocks. as
j supposed, extending some distance into
the river. | was informed, however
that this reef was the remains of an old
pier, that supported a royal wharf of solid ma
sonry that led down by regular steps to the
water, even Mt low water mark. The steps lead
ing up the high bank were rooted in the gradu-
ated style; at the top of the steps was a spa
cious open building, of brick foundation, cov-
cred with the inevitable graduated roof, termi-
mating in a PyOt crowned with the Tee, all
supportedb by massive teak pillars, heavily gilded.
The whole work was guarded by two immense
griflins, corresponding with those directly oppo-
site, on the west bank of the river, near the
Mingoon pagoda. Men are now living who re-
member this fine work, and who belonged to the
king to and from this pleasant retreat; but the
little Himalayan drops, the fingers of time and
the fingers of men, have combined to leave moth
ing but the debris of the monuments of kingly
pride and power that once graced this beautiful
spot. Mingoon Puyah however, remains
huge and pitiable absurdity-a reflection upon
the head and heart of its royal founder, accord
ing to our notions, but a monument of noble de-
sign, pious devotion, and magnanimity of soul,
viewed from the Burmese standpoint This
pagoda was commenced about 17S0-5, by the
great-grandfather of the present king, and the
work continued about twenty years, when it was
stopped, with the structure only half completed.
Had it been finished, it would have been nearly
500 feet high, with square base of nearly $50
feet. 1t is now, as it stands, less than 200 feet
high. 1t was terribly rent, and very large frag-
ments thrown down, by the great earthquake
thirty years ago. Probably nowhere in all Asia
is there to be found such an immense pile of
solid brick and mortar. The bricks and ma
sonry it would appear from the fragments
thrown down, were of excellent quality
Mr.. Rose then gives the following extract from
a work by Captain Yule:-
''North of the temple described above), on
low, circular terrace, stands the biggest bell in
Burmah, the biggest in the world, probably
great size cased and hooped with metal this
beam resting on two piers of brick work, in
closing massive frames of teak The bell does
not now swing free. The supports were so much
shaken by the earthquake, that it was found
necessary to put props under the bell, consisting
of blocks of wood carved into grotesque figures.
OF course no tone can now be got out of it, But
at any time it must have required a battering-
ram to elicitlts music Small ingots of silver (and
some say pieces of gold) may still be traced, un-
melted, in the mass, and from the inside one
sees the curious way in which the makers tried
to strengthen the parts which suspend it, by
dropping into the upper part of the mould iron
chains round which the metal was run. Its
principal dimensions are follows:-EXternal
diameter at the lip, 16 feet inches. Internal
diameter, feet inches above the lip, 10
feet. Interior height, II feet inches. EXte-
rior height, 12 feet. Interior diameter at the
top, feet inches. The thickness of the metal
varies from six inches to twelve, and the actual
weight of the whole mass is, by a rough calcula.
ton, about eighty tons. According to Rev. DR.
Howard Malcom, whose authority is probably
Col Burney, the weight is stated in the Roya
Chronicle at 55, 500 viss, or about ninety tons"
Mr. Rose adds:-'I would only remark thai
if we take the lower estimate, that of Majol
Yule, of the weight of the Mingoon bell, which
is eighty tons, we make it 179 200 pounds whicl
is 67,2OO pounds heavier than the great bell a
Peking. If we take the estimate of Rev. Howard
Malcom, d. D., Colonel Burney, and the Bur
mese Chronicle, and call it ninety tons, we hav
POI, 800 pounds, or 5000 pounds more than tn
great bell of Peking 1t would seem from tn
above statement that Brother Knowlton vii
have to come to Burmah to see the largest bel
out of Russia"