The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-16
A TEMPLE RUHt OF LAVA.
The worlds Eighth Wonder, which
Is in Java.

From the Philadelphia Times
Java has the eighth wonder of the
world in the Boro Budur Temple. It is
built entirely of lava and covers ground
space larger than four average city
squares That is is not better known is
probably due to the fact that it is in
the interior far from the beaten track
of the traveller. Further than this not
more than one native i'm a thousand
knows anything of it. and he does not
talk about it, The temple is twenty-five
miles from Djokjokarta, and the trip can
he made with a coach and four over a fine
broad read as smooth as a floor, and
.ined with native villages shaded by tow
ering cocoanut and palm trees.
1T is a journey never to be forgotten
ard he drive is all TOO soon over when at
length the Temple of Boro Budur looms
in sight The traveller having previously
in all probability met no one who has
ever seen this wonderful structure and
having heard but the vaguest hints as to
its size, and nothing relating to It's wealth
Of statues and bas-rc liefs, is fairly daZed
Upon him who has previously seen the
temples of Egypt, of Greece and of India
Baalbec, in Syria and the wonderful
ruins of Girgenti, if ruins they may be
called where The raVages of time are
stairways stand intact-who has fingered
among the baths, aqueducts and amphi-
theaters of Italy and the south of France
it is doubtful if the first impressions Of
these wonders of architecture in any way
equal the effect produced by this lava
temple in the heart of Java. When one
has seen pictures of famous ruins and
photographs in great numbers and for
wears read and heard descriptions Of the
most enthusiastic kind, it is seldom that
the reality very far surpasses the precon-
ceived idea. The effect of the Boro Budur
Is almost stunning, so unexpected is the
grandeur of the sight presented.
on the top of an eminence Whlch mas
been levelod to some extent TO receive
II is the temple Of Boro Budur 1t is nor
nutto square. but nearly so. each side be-
ing about go feet in length. IT is entirely
Iuift of blocks OF black lava. excessively
hard. to which quality doubtless 1t owes
its excellent state OF preservation. IL
consists Of seven rauees Of walls ana ter
rae $. deer, asing in size until they cul-
inmate IN q level space, IN the center ot
which stands a species OF dome about fif-
tv fee. in dam ter, containing a gigan-
, tic statue OF Buddha. This dome Is sur
rounded bv three circles Of towers con
siructed OF Ia tice-work of stone, each
enshrinirg an image of Buddta, seventy
two in all Descending, one posses 10
the inside are covered with bas-reliefs
illustrating everything pertaining 10 the
life of The forgotten race which flourish
ed when the temple was bult. These bas-
reli.fs are executed in a high style OF
art and arc altogether over two miles
in length. On The outside of the terraces
at regular intervals are sitting images
of Buddha. which certainly number not
less than 400 and possibly double that
These figures are somewhat over life
size. being three feet in height as they
SIT
The height OF he building is about 100
feet. exclusive Of the dome, which is In
a partially runous condition. and OF
which about twenty feet still stand. The
temrle is not enc solid mass of masonry
but is built around the conical hill until
the lase Of the dome is reached Leading
up to the temple Is a bread avenue with
animals Of stone on either side, while two
lions stand guard at the foot Of the stair
way Of lava.
Who built the Boro Budur? At what era