Page:Angkor from Siamese pov - Damrong - 1925.pdf/6

 This tank is rectangular, with an island sanctuary in the middle. The water thereof is regarded by the people as holy, and bordering its four sides are buildings for the sick who go there for the water cure. On the roof of each building is a hole through which the Brahmin priests pour down holy water from the tank: the hole communicates with four openings inside in the shape of the mouths of a lion, a hose, an elephant, and a human being. Illustrations of methods of treating invalids with the water are executed in bas relief outside these buildings.

Turning now to the royal palace at Angkor Thom, there are several things worth seeing. One of them is the high terrace in front of the palace on the northern side (Plate VI).

It is not exactly known to what use this terrace was put. it is now called "the Palace of the Leper King." There was a Khmer King, according to tradition, who became a leper because of a curse from a Brahmin priest, and on this terrace there happened to be a stone effigy of Siva, one arm of which was discoloured. It came, therefore, to be regarded as a statue of that king, and hence the terrace received its name. On close examination, however, one finds that the sides of this high terrace are sculptured with tier after tier of different kinds of beings; the lowest having Nāgas, the traditional inhabitants beneath the earth, and then giants and again Garudas and so on until we finally reach gods and goddesses on high. There is an opinion that this might have been intended as Mounth Meru, the abode of the gods with Siva as their head. Professor Cœdès thinks that it might have been used as the place for royal cremations, since such places are still called "Meru" in Siam to-day.

In the royal precincts there is a bathing tank for the use of royalty. It is not very bid, but the borders and steps into the water are wonderfully carved.

As to the residence itself of the Khmer Kings, there is to be found no stone edifice likely to answer this purpose. I believe they preferred living in wooden houses, as in Siam. Both at Sukhōdaya and at Ayudhya, the royal residences proper were built of wood. Originally only monasteries were built of brick and stone, but later