Indian Antiquary Vol 22

SR No.: 032514
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 442
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 376

340
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1893.
zek,36 52 miles, and thence by a small Railway, 8 miles, it is to be hoped that its ruins will at last be properly studied. Unfortunately, the time available during the visit now referred to was very short, and the weather wet and unfavorable for exploration. The chief object of interest is the Mulek Pagoda, or Dajap'aya, as it is also called, of the usual Sinhalese type, with square terraces, or procession paths, surmounted by a stúpa. Putting aside a discussion of the form of this pagoda for the present, it is worth noting that into panels in the lowest terrace are let, in large numbers, burnt clay tablets impressed with bas-reliefs. As this pagoda was built, like most old Talaing structures of the kind, of squared laterite blocks, the unrestored portions are in a state of great decay, and many of the tablets have fallen out, while others are much injured and likely to disappear also. They are, however, for the purposes of the antiquarian of great importance, as exhibiting medieval manners and costumes. Many are mere grotesques, but others are clearly meant to picture contemporary customs.
These particular bas-reliefs were carefully examined some years ago by Mr. R. F. St. Andrew St. John, now of Oxford but formerly of the Burma Commission, and the detailed description given below is partly from personal observation and partly from his account.37
There is evidence that similar pagodas existed elsewhere in the Talaing Country at one time from the figures on Plates VIII., fig. 1, IX., IXa, X., XI., XII. and XIII., which are from photographs of part of the collection in the Phayre Museum at Rangoon of glazed tablets found at Pegu and Syriam.38 The Pegu tablets are all said to have been found round the entirely ruined square base of a pagoda, in the Zainganaing Quarter, in what is now known as Mr. Jackson's Garden (but see below, p. 353 ff.). That this ruined pagoda was once of great importance is attested by the existence in the neighbourhood of the remains of an unusually large artificial tank, the sides of which were once faced with laterite blocks. The ruins of the pagoda now resemble a square jungle-covered mound, and glazed ware is still dug out of it and the neighbouring tank walls in considerable quantities." As regards Upper Burma, at Pagan similar tablets abound, and at Amarapura, Yule observed the same style of decoration in sandstone on the basement of the Mahâtulatb'dnjò Kyaung: (Monastery). From Sagaing I have photographs of 21 inscribed green glazed bricks from the ruined procession paths of the old Sigonji: Pagoda there. These exhibit what I take to be scenes from a Játaka or Játakas, after the fashion at Bharaut, etc., in India. The inscriptions are legible enough, but, like so many old Burmese inscriptions, not as yet intelligible. The language is Burmese with much Pâli mixed with it. Every brick is numbered, and the high numbers on those that remain shew what a large quantity must originally have been set up: e. g. 278, 421, 573, 862.
There is no need to attribute a foreign origin to these tablets, on account of the remarkably good glazing, wherever found. Glazing, especially green glazing, is a very old art in Ramaññadesa, as the following interesting facts will shew.
There is still a well-known and important manufacture at Twantê," near Rangoon, of what are now called commercially Pegu Jars, but were known, until 1730 A. D., at any rate, by a
se Spelt Düsranch'ip, from dágyins, the durian fruit and s'ék, a landing place. It was from this place that the messengers of King DArAwadi (1837--1846 A. D.) used to embark on boats up the Donami and go thence by road vid Taung-nga and Yamègin to Amarapura with this fetid fruit, which is as great a delicacy to the Burmese as it is an object of disgust to Europeans. Yule notes this fact, op. cit., p., 161, footnote. Taung-nga (Toungoo) is always Taunù is Sangermano; see Reprint, 1885, pp. 158, &c.
27 B. B. Gazetteer, Vol. II pp. 715-717. Fergusson, Hist. of Indian Architecture, pp. 613-614, quotes Mr. St. John from The Phonix, Vol. II. p. 204 ff.
With the carelessness characteristic of all inhabitants of Burma these invaluable remains have been deposited without a note to shew which are from Pegu and which Irom Syriam. Syriam in Burmese is spelt SanЯyan and pron. bhanlyin. It is the Cirion, Sirian, Serian and Syrian of old writers.
se I received 71 tablets for the Phayre Museum quite lately from this place through the kindness of the owner. Both the Pegu and Syriam tablets are of the same type. Those from Syriam are from Capt. C. C. Wise's property and were found in the ruined base of an old pagoda outside the S. W. bastion of the old fort. But see post, p. 353 ft. is Mission to the Court of Ava, p. 164 and Plate xxi. 41 B. B. Gazetbeer, I. 418; II. 550, 649.