Page:Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 29.djvu/374

348 customary at existing monasteries in Burmah. At the south-eastern angle of the building was an apartment differing from the others. It had several recesses in the walls and may probably have been the library of the establishment. At its southern end was a staircase which led up to a small turret on the roof. This was probably intended for the inmates to proceed to the roof in the cool of the evening.

The monastery was surrounded by an enclosure wall (now nearly all in ruins) about nine feet high. Each face was about 200 feet long. There was only the appearance of a gate at the centre of the eastern face. This was constructed with a double arch, indicating that the monastery had been erected by royal bounty.

This building appears to have been constructed solely as a monastery or residence for monks, and with places for images of Buddha, but no other object of worship. I mention this as Mr. James Fergusson in a note on Buddhist structures, appended to Yule’s Narrative of the Mission to the Court of Ava in 1855, appears to suppose that in Burmese monasteries “a dagoba altar” has been introduced, together with images of Buddha, thus converting the Vihara or monastery into the purposes of a chaitya hall. I am not quite sure that I understand what is meant by a “dagoba altar,” to which “the priest turns in prayer.” If it be a small model dagoba representing a relic receptacle, I am very certain I never saw one in a modern Burmese kyoung or monastery. In Burmah, Buddhist monks do not conduct worship. They simply preach the law. Each individual makes his own offerings, and utters his own ejaculations. Prayer is scarcely an appropriate term for the devotions of Buddhists. There was no indication in the ancient monastery I have been describing that any such object of worship as a “dagoba altar” was introduced. But in the enclosure wall of the monastery, and entirely detached from the building, are two small chambered or vaulted pagodas, which evidently were intended as oratories, (so to speak,) for the monks. This also would tend to show that no “dagoba” was placed within the walls of the monastery itself.

It may be well to add a few words on modern monasteries in Burmah. They are almost invariably built entirely of teak wood. Indeed Burmese of the present day, clergy and laity, appear to have