Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-03-08
ASHTABULA, OHIO SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1873,


"
Mre. felverton, who IL travelling in
Asia. IN "a journey in Junk" describes
10 the Overland Monthly, a remarkable
Bdddhist temple in Cochin China. We
give o brief extract only, which Is WV
I'd picture Of Asiatic art and manners;
"The Temple, Of pageda, or Wat of
Angkor, is built In the form Of triangle
covering square mile Of ground. A
massive wall, the ontbpilding, and four
splendid entrance halls, form the first
square. Within 10 lake. The second
quadrengle is raised terrace, formed OF
solid blocks of stone, fitted together on
the model of the Via-Appia of Rome. A
massive and richly-carved bslustrade
protects this terraced walk and bridges
the walk on each side. The terrace,
which is now cosiderably dilapidated, is
l,SO0 feet on each side. In front it has a
magnificent building IN the form Of a yes
tIbuie or gallery, 600 feet long, with
three domes and grand entrance hail.
The whole is sculptured infinitely, and
the delicate precision of the lines and an
giles OF the pilasters and gate-ways give
perfect symmetry. Tie steps up to
this gateway are fanked on either side
with colossal hous, their names are 80
carved as 10 pnt me in mind OF Lord
Chancellors, wigs. Inside these squares
have been magnificent gardens aud fish
ponds four detached houses, all in the
same style, and probably been residen.
ces OF priests of the temple. All is in
solid stone, without particle of wood
or iron. The third square is OF 900 feet
side. II rises superbly from the cleva-
ton OF the terrace, with eight towers,
about $50 feet above its basement level.
To give any idea Of the architecture is
difficult, and it follows no recognized or.
der. The towers are all formed in pro-
ject'ng leaves like pineapple, having
the shape Of bishops mitcr. All the
roofs are domed and made of solid stone
all the doorways are square, and sur.
rounded by elaborate hralings, exceed
ingly chaste. The windows are richly
mullloned-of course without glass. The
structure 10 surrounded by double row
OF square columns of pillars, with orna.
meptal capitals aud pedestals, and the
surface carved with the figure of wo-
man, finely attired in quantity Of jew
elry, and skirt, which must have repre-
sented silk, as it is a. brooche with pat.
tern such as ladies wear at the present
day. The skirt is trimmed with fringe
and braiding, and is gored: the dress
has no bodice, and the peron remains
uncovered save for deep necklace
which decends upon the shoulders, arm
lets, bracelets, and anklets of jewels OF
gold. But the scantiness of the dress |,
compensated tor by the head-dress, which
towers in strange, fantastic shape, as high
again as the hcad-square on the fore
head, like the Golf OF Mary Stewart. TIL,
face is round, the features short, the eye'
large and soft, quite different from tn,
Chinese eye. The figures are round ant
graceful, but lack the development o
muscle in the arms and legs. Their
must have been thousands of these fig
ures, for this building alone was sur
rounded by 4s0 detached pillars, eacl
. holding two figures. The interior O
this colonade was picture gallery
wrought in stone or black marble, of hi.
torical events, representing great battle
; with 100000 men engaged, each regi
ment consisting of l,00O-lhe numerica
strength of the present dsy---each regi
m mt bearing different insignia. Tn
arms are javelins, arrows, and a sort o
truncheon or ballet-axe. The met tough
on foot, the chiefs on horeback-th
horses are remarkably we'll drawn, an
the riders have capital seats, but no stil
rups-in chariols and on elephants, tn
latter dashing among the troops an
!, whirling them up in the air. The da
after the victory women and childre
! were led captive with the prisoners
The torture inflicted on the conquere
were terrible, aud, although tried SCI
, eral times to examine them, it made m
, quite sick, and therefore spare my rel
ders the description. asl