Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/233

 INDIAN ISLANDERS. 203 splendid temple of Boro Budur, where they are found in the most complete and satisfactory form. These groups represent a great variety of subjects, such as audiences, processions, religious wor- ship in temples, hunting and maritime scenes. I shall select for description a few of those that seem most directly connected with the mythological history of the temple. On the external face of the third wall, Buddha is represented in a great many in- stances. Close to the gateway, in particular, is one group in which he is the principal figure. The sage, or deity, is surrounded by a crowd of disci- pies or votaries, some sitting and some standing ; most of them are in the act of presenting gifts, which, in agreement with the assumed mildness of spirit which is the characteristic of his religion, are found to consist of nothing but fruits and flowers. Male votaries appear on one side, and female on the other, while the sage sitting in the centre ap* pears to address the multitude. On the fourth wall of the same magnificent temple, Buddha is repeatedly represented address- ing certain persons, who, contrary to the usual practice in the temple, are represented with beards, and whom I conjecture to be the Bramins of the bloody worship of the Hindu destroyer. In an- other place, his own votaries, with their smooth chins, are listening to him from the clouds ; and in a third place, a battle is fought in his presence,